Ask the Nurse Practitioner

What to do if your child gets a head injury

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:15:00 +0000

This is a link to my latest Curo post. I don't think prescreening is done by local pediatricians in my area but there is a test called the Impact test that is done at school. If your child is an athlete, they should have a baseline test. If there is a head injury then the results can be compared to the baseline. It is a good idea to get the test done because it will help gauge recovery from a possible head injury.

http://blog.mycuro.com/post/17168892306/what-to-do-if-your-child-gets-a-head-injury

Get rid of fat loss obstacles with these tips

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:55:00 +0000

Another guest post from Kate Wilson:

If you have been trying incessantly to shed those extra pounds but somehow have not managed despite the strenuous workouts and dieting, here are some tips to help you knock off that extra flab in no time:

1. Hit the gym, join a sport, do some brisk walking, do swimming, take to yoga. Try to do some form of exercise for at least twenty minutes five days a week. A good workout will tone your body and boost your metabolism. With a balanced diet and a good work out, you'll lose the pounds in no time.

2. Remain active throughout the day. Physical exercise is important but you can also add more activity like taking the staircase instead of the elevator or walking your dog in the evening.

3. Hydrate your body by drinking plenty of water through the day which will help you to lose weight. By following a daily ritual of drinking water, you are sure to boost your metabolism which will help you to drain off toxins leading to glowing and flawless skin. Having a glass of water before a meal can suppress your hunger pangs so you end up eating less.

4. Ban colas from your shopping list. Drink water.

5. Get the right amount of sleep. Sleep deprivation also causes an increase in body weight as your metabolic system goes for a toss when you sleep less.

6. Do not indulge in eating a lot of processed food. Opt for home cooked fresh food instead.

7. Avoid having carbs after 8 p.m. You can have a nice broth or soup with some vegetables that can be equally filling.

8. Never go on an empty stomach in the morning. Breakfast is supposed to be the most important so doesn’t ignore it!

9. If heavy workout session does not appeal to you, then join a dance class. Dancing is a very good and fun way of losing weight and is a great form of exercise.

10. Try doing a few sets of breathing exercises to lose weight, because if they are done correctly, then you can end up losing a few pounds.

11. If you are a heavy smoker, then try to kick the butt because it is tough to lose weight when you are smoking.

12. Do not overwork yourself. A tired body that has been slogging it out in the gym for two hours every day will not let go of the fats that you so want to burn.

13. Chew your food slowly for at least sixteen times before finally swallowing it down your throat. As you chew, your saliva works on the food and makes digestion much easier. Slow eating also sends a signal to your brain that your stomach is full and this prevents you from over-eating.

About The Author: Kate is a blogger by profession. She loves writing, travelling and reading. Recently she got a Leather Sofa Bed on New Year. The days she is busy writing an article on wedding makeup for her blog.

7 Tips for Preventing Injuries in an Unavoidable Accident

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:41:00 +0000

Here is a guest post from Colleen Harding.

7 Tips for Preventing Injuries in an Unavoidable Accident

A step-by-step guide to avoid serious injury or death during a collision

Injuries suffered in a car accident or motorcycle accident can be some of the most traumatic injuries anyone can face. During an accident much will depend on the driver—while the rest will depend on the vehicle they are driving. The other elements are completely unknown (referring to other vehicles on the road and the people driving them). Every vehicle is different. However, you can still do your part to avoid causing serious injuries or death during an motor vehicle accident by maintaining your vehicle regularly, driving with focus and control, having a saved list of emergency contacts—including emergency services, your insurance company, and a personal injury attorney – in case of a collision, and by adhering to the following safe driving guidelines:

1. Always wear a seat belt

This applies to everyone in your vehicle, including the driver and those in the backseat. Seat belts are one of the most important safety items you can wear to avoid serious injury or death during a car crash. Seat belts for passengers should sit low, across your hip bones in the back seat, while front seat passengers also have a shoulder belt that will brace them across the center of the chest should a collision occur. Small children should always be seated in the backseat and confined to child car seat when the car is in motion. Motorcycles do not have seat belts, but all drivers and passengers should wear a helmet.

2. Test your vehicles safety features

Do not drive a vehicle that is not in proper working order. Test all aspects of your vehicle—from your seat belts to your motorcycles airbags—to ensure that all safety features are in prime working order.

3. Drive a safe vehicle

If you want to avoid an accident, it makes sense to purchase the safest car for your needs and budget, right? Before purchasing a vehicle, check the make and model for safety under the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s list of crash test ratings

4. Stow loose objects in the trunk

A loose object becomes a potential danger in a crash if it should propel forward and hit a passenger. This is why it’s vital to store any loose objects in the trunk or securely under the seats.

5. Regularly check and maintain vehicle parts

This means everything from your car or motorcycle’s engine, brakes, transmissions, suspension and tires. Keeping your ride in top running condition will help you minimize harm to passengers as well as the colliding vehicle should you have an accident.

6. Focus on driving

Distraction laws are in place for a reason. They apply to drive while using cell phone, reading a map, eating, and applying makeup or shaving. And passengers should never ride with feet up on the dashboard or try to distract the driver. A focused driver can anticipate an unavoidable accident and take precautions avoid the following:

Loose objects on the road that could end up causing an accident
Other vehicles or pedestrians that move into your path
Tailgating
Avoid distracted drivers (e.g., tailgaters, swerving drivers, erratic speeders
Parked cars opening doors
Other accidents

7. Stay calm, attempt to reduce speed, and try to avoid serious injuries or death during a collision by:

Avoiding a head-on collision into another vehicle, pedestrian or concrete barrier
Trying to control your car's speed by slowing down—the faster your speed; the more damage the impact will cause. You can do this by braking, either pump the breaks to keep control or press the breaks firmly (if you have anti-lock brakes) and release to avoid skidding
Avoiding side impact—where vehicles are the most structurally fragile
Calling 911 immediately
If you can, check on other passengers in your vehicle as well as the other vehicle. If there is an injury, apply first aid, but don’t try to remove the injured person from a vehicle due to the risk of causing further spinal or neck injuries

Colleen Harding is a freelance writer and guest blogger who specializes on writing about law. Her passion for the legal realm started with a job as a Legal Aid and continued when she accepted a role as a Human Resources Coordinator for a mid-sized U.S. manufacturing company. Colleen is always looking for more freelance writing work and can be contacted at colleenharding@gmail.com

How to keep your child safe while sledding

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:56:00 +0000

Here's link to my latest curo post: http://blog.mycuro.com/post/16838216824/staying-safe-on-the-sledding-hill

A new resource for families- E Caring

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:49:00 +0000

I was recently contacted by the owners of ecaring.com which is a site to help manage the care of loved ones. Here is an article written by the CEO of the site.

Facing Eldercare

How to Deal with Home Healthcare For Your Loved One:

Introducing CareGiving 2.0

Robert M. Herzog

Millions of American families are faced with the sudden reality of caring for an elderly parent. Unfortunately, nobody is ever prepared for the difficult transition to securing home health care for a loved one. The process is emotionally draining, logistically complex, and financially daunting. What's worse is to find yourself turning over the keys for Mom or Dad's house to a stranger while you stand aside and hope for the best. It’s frustrating to really have no way to know what's going on. We face so many questions:

How do I navigate both the private and government-run healthcare abyss?
How will I make life or death decisions on behalf of my elderly parent if they are unable to make those decisions on their own?
Where are Mom and Dad going to live?
Who is going to care for them around the clock?
How do I cope with the guilt that comes with making decisions that I know are against their wishes but are in their best interest?

This article will provide useful ideas for caregivers who are suddenly faced with having to care for an elderly parent or loved one. I understand first-hand the drastic emotional and financial toll of caretaking. My goal is to offer advice based on my experiences in the hope that I can help others navigate the complex world of elder care. My experiences were emotional, painful, and frustrating. In response, I have devoted myself to changing and simplifying the American home healthcare system in order to improve quality of life, lower healthcare costs, and reduce the burdens that can so terribly affect caregivers.

My mother worked until she was 79 years old. She had a few good retirement years, then her health quickly began to decline. Suddenly our life was in a tailspin: constant hospital visits, home assessments, agencies, home aides, visiting nurses, Medicare, rehab, massive insurance claims -- the whole catastrophe. For several years, my brother, my wife and I spent hours tending to my mother’s daily needs, yet always felt like we were not on top of the situation. I would have loved to know what care she was receiving when I was not around, or when trends developed that showed potential problems emerging, and of course to be notified immediately of significant changes or problems that required swift attention. .

While I wanted to keep control of the situation and get timely information that would be useful in so many tough choices, no system existed for keeping track of her home healthcare. It was an endlessly frustrating and awful time.

After my mother passed away, I thought about all the lessons I learned through our families’ home care experience. Then, I started seeing friends going through what I went through. It was then I decided that we needed and deserved something better-- a real-time way to monitor and manage home health care that would make it as good as it could be, that would help keep people living at home longer, in greater comfort and dignity, avoid preventable problems, and connected to the people who loved them.

We knew what we wanted: a system that could provide up-to-date information about all the factors that are crucial to really understanding what was going on in the home while making sure the care provided was the care that was needed (and that was being paid for!). The home health aides we had worked with were all dedicated people, but many had limited experience with computers and English was often a second language for them. So we had to make sure that the tools we provided them were ones they could use.

After extensive consultation with industry experts and healthcare providers, our team created easy-to-use web based care management software that allows any family member to monitor what is going on at home from either their computer or phone in real time, anywhere in the world.

We called it eCaring.

eCaring enables home care workers, caregivers, and seniors themselves to enter comprehensive information about the care, conditions, status, and activity of a home care recipient, regardless of computer skills or English literacy. It is the only system available that takes advantage of the Internet by generating a digital record of home health care from inside the home. eCaring tracks activities such as eating, sleeping, mental state, bathroom habits, leisure activities, and just about anything you can think of to suit your personal home care situation.

What makes eCaring’s paperless software unique is its user-friendly nature for all those involved with caregiving, including, most importantly, the home caregiver. Besides its monitoring aspects, eCaring’s digital records are shareable, allowing doctors and care providers to view a patient’s status in real-time and look for health patterns by hour, days, weeks or months. This information is a tremendous asset to all those responsible for providing home care, from family members to geriatric care managers to agencies to all care providers.

Furthermore, eCaring's CareAlert system will provide peace of mind by helping keep small problems from becoming big ones. CareAlerts notifies you and the appropriate person right away when a situation develops that requires attention. Potentially dangerous situations such as a fall, refusing medications or food, and not sleeping can be responded to immediately. We are helping keep people at home longer and avoiding expensive and traumatizing hospital visits or a move to institutional care.

Does it work? We've trained aides to use eCaring, and they loved it. Working with a computer system enhanced their self-esteem and gave them a meaningful voice in care management – a role which under the current system, they don't otherwise have despite their first-hand experience.

Because we can relate to what you are going through, we are offering families the opportunity to test out eCaring for a limited time during the introductory phase of our new system. Our analysis indicates it saves money, keeps patients in their home longer and saves you from much of the anxiety associated with these urgent life changes. My hope is that you take advantage of this system and try it out, at www.ecaring.com.

We are here to help and welcome your feedback. Check eCaring out and let us know what you think. info@ecaring.com

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:36:00 +0000

Here's a site I came across recently. It has a lot of information for job seekers. Recently they published a list of blogs to help nurses.. check out number 33. :)

Top 36 Nursing Blogs To Help With Your Nursing Career

Read more: http://www.resumeservicesonline.com/blog/resume/top-36-nursing-blogs-to-help-with-your-nursing-career/#ixzz1itBbJvbq

My child has a cold- should i take her to the ER, urgent care or the pediatrician?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:29:00 +0000

Here is a link to a GREAT post about the management of cold and the dangers of urgent care. I agree completely!!

http://survivorpediatrics.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/my-child-has-a-cold-should-i-take-her-the-er-urgent-care-or-the-pediatrician/#comment-620

Why you should call your pediatrician before going to an urgent care center

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:02:00 +0000

Urgent care centers are all the rage lately. They are billed as the solution to emergency department overcrowding and new ones are popping up all the time. I agree they do serve a purpose in the community and can very helpful to keep people out of the emergency department.

However, consider this:

If you take your child only to urgent care every time they get sick they will not have a record of that antibiotic that gave your baby horrible diarrhea last year.

If you take your child to urgent care for the 4th ear infection in the last 3 months they won't know that it's really the same ear infection that never get better each time they were prescribed amoxicillin by a different provider.

If you take your child to urgent care instead of your pediatrician your pediatrician won't know that your child has been slowly developing symptoms of a problem that could have been picked up on a well child exam.

Urgent care definitely has a place in the world and is a good option when you have a problem that can't wait until the next morning. However, relying on urgent care over your pediatrician may not be in your child's best interest. If you have a problem that needs attention, always start with your primary care provider who will help you figure out the best thng to do.

How do I know if I have the cold or a flu?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:46:00 +0000

Here is a link to a post I wrote for the curo blog about cold and flu:

http://blog.mycuro.com/post/15247188341/cold-flu-season

Ten useful apps in pediatric primary care

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:37:00 +0000

Those who know me know that I'm very attached to my iPad an iPod touch. Both come to work with my every day and there are a multitude of apps I use in my everyday practice. Here are my most useful:

Epocrates is by far the most useful app on my iPad. I have been using epocrates since I first got a Palm m505 in 2001. I use the prescribing information all the time. There is a paid version with lots of extra features but I find the free one suits my needs. Their website is www.epocrates.com.

Child BMI and Teen BMI are useful apps that I use to calculate BMI on all well child visits I do. These apps in particular give the percentiles for each measurement which is something that schools require. Their developer website is http://www.tactiosoft.com/.

Antibiotic advisor is a very comprehensive guide to choosing appropriate antibiotics. This is useful for things like figuring out the third line treatment for strep throat for a patient allergic to penicillin. Their website is www.ccspublishing.com.

Visual Dx is another great resource for deciphering rashes. This is the mobile version of the program. It allows you to narrow down rashes based on certain characteristics and has lots of pictures. It is not free but if you have access to the main program (our local university give us access) then you can download the app for free. Website is www.visualdx.com.

Scoligauge is a handy tool that turns your iPod or iPhone into a scoliometer. I think it costs 99 cents in the iTunes store. The developer is http://www.ockendon.net/.

ARUP consult is useful for looking up the significance of abnormal lab results. The website is www.arupconsult.com.

OB wheel replaces the gestational age calculator I used to carry in my pocket. The one I have seems to no longer be listed in the iTunes store but there are many others to choose from.

Color test is the traditional color blindness test. The website is http://www.cassit.com/Cassiopeia_Information_Technologies/Home.html.

Organs is a very cool 3D model of many organs in the body. There are models, information about each one as well as disease information. It does have more of a cool factor than a useful factor but I have used it to explain things to patients. It is made by www.realbodywork.com.

Eye chart turns the iPad into an eye chart. This is especially useful for looking at near vision if you don't have a pocket chart. The website is http://www.iris-labs.com/.

All of these apps are available in the iTunes store. I also routinely use things like google maps to show patients how to get to the lab or the camera to email pictures of rashes to the doctor I work with. Feel free to share your favorite apps. I'm always looking for more!

My curo: A new concept in healthcare

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:11:00 +0000

A new site called Curo has recently launched. The concept is to make health simpler. Members can contact a health advisor who will help them navigate the system and get connected with whatever services they need. It's an interesting concept and I hope it takes off.

There is a great blog on the site with all sorts of tips on making life easier..

http://blog.mycuro.com/

(you might especially like the health blogger..)

Home Gym Equipment: Easy tips to choose the best

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:02:00 +0000

Here is another guest post from Kate Wilson. Enjoy!

Why go to a gym when you can exercise right in your home? Yes, we know home is the best place for you and indeed practicing at home has its share of advantages. If you do decide to exercise at home, you need to decide what equipment suits your need. Your home gym should be a place where you can exercise and lift weights and should be compact. It is always preferable that you look for portable equipments. Portable gym equipment like dumbbells, bench, balls, steps, and bands are pretty easy to buy and involve nothing complex. They are a great way to exercise too.

You could also try out the total gym concept. The total gym concept uses an inclined bench with an adjustable height and a sliding seat platform that uses your body weight to increase resistance. It is great for body building. You can also have free weight stations. Free weights are equipment such as power racks which are used for holding barbells or adjustable benches and round weights.

You could also consider multi gyms based on stacked weights. This kind of multi gym configuration has a cable and pulley mechanism with stacked weights. You just have to select the weight to use the equipment.

Before selecting gym equipment, you need to decide what exactly your priorities are. Do you want to stay fit or do you want to build your body? If you want to stay fit you could buy a treadmill. If you want to build your body you could use dumbbells. If you know what you want from your gym, you will have less of a chance of boredom. There is also the problem of space. You need to calculate the space you have. Do not make the gym too much over crowded. Also the number of users who will use the gym is an important consideration in deciding the gym’s size.

The most important part of purchasing gym equipment may be to consider your budget. A few dumbbells, adjustable bench, a fitness ball, bands and an exercise mat should cost less than $400. Shop around for the best prices and look for equipment that is easy to install. These easy tips can go a long way to make your home gym experience a pleasurable one.

About The Author: Kate is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on blood sugar check and lifestyle. She is also fond of reading books. These days she is reading a book on pregnancy diet .

Motorcycle Accidents: How to Avoid Them and Act in the Event of One

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:23:00 +0000

Here's another guest post about an interesting topic. Enjoy!

Motorcycle Accidents: How to Avoid Them and Act in the Event of One

How to Avoid a Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle accidents account for 11 percent of all road accidents, and more than half of all motorcycle accidents involve at least one other vehicle. There are a number of reasons that motorcyclists become involved in accidents, but the most common reasons are:

· Failure to negotiate a bend.

· Lane splitting.

· Other motorists not seeing the motorcyclist.

· Excessive speeds.

· Disobeying driving rules, such as traffic signs.

· Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Interesting is that in two-vehicle fatal motorcycle accidents, a little more than 4 in 10 are the result of a vehicle turning left while a motorcycle attempts to go straight, pass, or overtake a vehicle.

Given this, there are ways to avoid an accident:

· Follow all road laws.

o Obey the posted speed limit.

o Use your turn signals.

o Do not lane split or ride in the shoulder.

· Observe your surroundings.

o Be aware of other vehicles around you.

o Be sure that you are not in other vehicles’ blind spots.

o Position yourself closer to the side of the road you are on.

o Observe weather conditions that affect the roads.

o Constantly check for potential hazards, such as debris in the roadway.

· Read your bike’s owner’s manual.

· Take a motorcycle safety course.

· Regularly check your bike for needed maintenance.

· Intersections are where many motorcycle accidents take place; slow down and be extra cautious when you approach one.

· Keep a safe distance from the vehicles around you.

· Be extra cautious during dusk and nighttime; this is when other motorists’ vision is least reliable.

What to Do In the Event of an Accident

Tips:

1. Do not lay down your bike unless you must. You will be safer on your bike than under it. The metals and plastics on bikes will cause you to slide longer than the rubber on your tires will.

2. Use both the front and back brakes, but only pump your front brakes if they lock.

3. Try to relax if you fall; attempting to stop usually results in more injuries.

a. Tucking and rolling may result in spinal injuries.

Post-Accident:

1. Do not stand up until:

a. You have completely stopped moving.

b. You have checked yourself for serious injuries, like spinal or head injuries.

2. If you are injured and capable, call 9-1-1.

3. Do not leave the scene of the accident.

4. If you seem to have only minor injuries, check others involved in the accident.

5. If no one seems injured, you need to begin the post-accident process.

a. If possible, take pictures of the scene before any vehicles are moved.

b. Move your vehicle to a safe location.

c. Exchange insurance and contact information with all of those involved in the accident.

d. Stay calm.

e. Take pictures off all damages to your motorcycle and other vehicles.

f. File a vehicle accident report either at the scene with a police officer or after the accident at a police station.

g. Regardless of whether or not you feel injured, go to a doctor for examination. Adrenaline pulses through you during and after an accident and can prevent you from feeling injured; also, you cannot see internal injuries.

Gina Williams is a guest post and article writer bringing to us information on how to avoid a motorcycle accident, and what to do in the event of one.

Gina also writes about motorcycleaccident statistics

What's the big deal about antibiotics anyway??

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:28:00 +0000

Colder weather is upon us. People are spending more time indoors in close contact and we are seeing an increase in upper respiratory infections these days. I spend most of my days seeing kids with stuffy noses, sore throats and coughs.

At least once every couple of weeks I hear a conversation that goes something like this:
1. "I started with a (stuffy nose, cough, runny nose etc) yesterday and I just took some of my leftover amoxicillin. But don't worry, I only took half a pill instead of a whole one."
2. "he started with a sore throat last night and I gave him his sister's leftover augmentin since I know he had strep"
3. "every October she gets a zpack so can't you just call one in?"

You get the idea.
Everytime I hear something like this is makes my stomach turn.

I understand you are busy and don't always have time to be seen. But here is why these are bad ideas:
1. First of all you might not even need an antibiotic. You might have a virus. If you you take an antibiotic when you have a virus it won't make any difference. It won't make you better. When you take an antibiotic you don't need then you are exposing your body to medicine you don't need. You are exposing the good bacteria in your body to unescessary antibiotics which contributes to the development of resistant bacteria.

If you do need an antibiotic you may have chosen the wrong one or taken the wrong dose. So now some of your bacteria has been killed off by the antibiotic. The rest is still there and has the potential to multiply and make you sicker. Or worse, develop resistance so when you do take the right antibiotic it doesn't work.

2. So now you have started to treat your kid's sore throat with antibiotics. Now I can't do a throat culture to see if he even has strep in the first place. Of course if you choose the wrong drug or dose your kid isn't going to get better and now you may have resistant strep.

3. There is nothing magical about October that means when your kid gets sick in October they need a zpack. I get it that you're busy and don't want to come in. But there is only one way to know if your child really needs an antibiotic this October. Bring them in to be seen.

Trust me, we are not out to steal all your money or inconvenience you. We simply want to give you or your child the best care possible and that means prescribing antibiotics responsibly.

20 Helpful Tips When Transitioning from Paramedic to RNCUSTOM_THESIS_TITLE_SEPARATORNurse Medic Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:31:00 +0000

20 Helpful Tips When Transitioning from Paramedic to RN
Well written post with some great advice.

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When does my kid need an antibiotic for her stuffy nose?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:21:00 +0000

I see a lot of kids every day with stuffy noses. It usually goes something like this:

She has had a stuffy nose for 2 days and I don't want her to miss any school so please make her better.

Of course I wish I could make all kids with a stuffy nose better immediately but antibiotics are not always the answer. Most stuffy noses are caused by viruses and antibiotics are not going to help.

So how do I know if your kid needs an antibiotic? There are some clues that make me think more of a sinus infection.

Symptoms have gone on more than 10 days and are getting worse, not better.
Fever (99.9 is not a fever.. Temperature varies throughout the day and no one is exactly 98.6 all the time. Fever is generally 100.5 or higher)
Sinus tenderness (my face hurts!!)
The color of the drainage does not always buy you an antibiotic but thick yellow green drainage in the setting of the other criteria would make me more likely to think of sinusitis. A lot of people have yellow drainage in the morning because they are clearing out pooled secretions from the night then they are clear through the rest of the day. This is not a bacterial infection.

So what do I do if my kid doesn't have these things? They still have a stuffy nose and I don't want it to get worse so can't you just give me the antibiotic??

Well, no. Treating a bacterial infection that doesn't exist isn't going to fix your viral illness or allergy problem. There are things you can do, however.

Saline nasal spray
Over the counter allergy meds like Zyrtec, claritin or allegra.
Nasal steroids like flonase, nasonex, nasalcrom.
Time and patience.

It's not that we don't want to make your child better. We just want to make sure your child has the appropriate treatment.

Starting solid foods

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:10:00 +0000

Today I want to share a link to a great blog post I read about starting solid foods. It's written by a pediatrician at the survivor pediatrics blog.

http://survivorpediatrics.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/introduction-to-solids-6th-myths/

Flu shot season is upon is.

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:03:00 +0000

Every year I see people in January or February who have sudden onset of high fever, cough and aching. They feel awful and sometimes get pretty sick. Some go onto develop pneumonia and people with asthma are particularly vulnerable. I always ask them the same question... Did you get a flu shot? And the answer is usually no. I was too busy. Or, I don't like shots. Or the flu shot is big pharma's way of getting more health care dollars. There are lots of reasons why people don't get a flu shot.

A few months later they come and see me and they have the flu and want me to make them better. Well.. there isn't much I can do to make them better! Antivirals will decrease the duration of illness in some cases but they aren't going to make you better. The flu can last 7-10 days.

Please do us all a favor. Get a flu shot. Save yourself (and me) a lot of trouble in a few months!!

Location:Flu shot season is upon us.

Guest post- top 10 nursing schools in the USA

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Today we have a guest post from Andrea Erins.

Top 10 Nursing Schools in the U.S.

This list of the best nursing schools in the country is based on the U.S. News and World Report 2011 Rankings. All ten are consistently at the top of college and university rankings for their nursing programs. Three schools are tied for first place, two schools are tied for fourth place, and four schools are tied for the bottoms four spots in the top 10.

1. Johns Hopkins University – Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins consistently comes at the top of the ratings for the medical and public health fields. The School of Nursing was established in 1889, making it one of the oldest and preeminent nursing schools in the country. It is also among the top schools to receive research funding from the National Institute of Health. The school offers an accelerated Baccalaureate program, along with graduate and certificate programs in several different areas.

1. University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, PA

U Penn is another school that always appears at the top of lists for nursing institutions. The Ivy League school also tends to rank higher than other top nursing schools on student satisfaction surveys such as StudentsReview.com. Since March 9, 2010 the U Penn School of Nursing has ranked first in funding from the National Institute of Health. They have a unique graduate-level specialization in adult home care.

1. University of Washington – Seattle, WA

The UW Graduate School of Nursing has been ranked first in the country since 1984, when the first survey of graduate schools was conducted. They have programs in Biobehavorial Nursing and Health Systems, Family and Child Nursing, and Psychosocial and Community Health.

4. University of California – San Francisco, CA

UCSF is notable for its Medical Center, which includes treatment in a number of areas including kidney and liver transplants, neurology, and oncology. Many faculty members work at the Center, which is ranked as one of the best in the nation and gives nursing students the opportunity to practice in a state-of-the-art facility. The medical nurse, nurse practitioner, and mental health programs at UCSF tend to be ranked particularly well.

4. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, NC

UNC Chapel Hill offers 121 interdisciplinary research facilities as well as specialist programs in psychiatric/mental health clinical nursing, nursing service administration and pediatric nurse practitioner.

6. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI

U of M provides its nursing students with intensive practical experience with its Clinical Learning Center, which has a clinical simulation lab and partnerships with clinical mentor-preceptors. The school offers programs in Acute, Critical and Long-Term Care, Health Promotion and Risk-Reduction Programs, and Nursing Business and Health Systems.

7. Duke University – Durham, NC

Duke offers a unique 16-month accelerated BSN program along with several graduate programs. The School of Nursing also has a particular commitment to promoting diversity through international research collaborations, global and community health initiatives, a cultural immersion opportunity for clinical or residency requirements, and an Assembly for Men in Nursing.

7. Oregon Health and Science University – Portland, OR

OHSU is the only health and research university in Oregon, specializing as a training clinic and research center for the medical field. Its programs for gerontology, geriatric nurse practitioners, and family nurse practitioners rank particularly well. OHSU also has two hospitals, a general hospital and a children’s hospital.

7. University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA

U Pitt offers an accelerated BSN to students who already have a bachelor’s or graduate degree in another discipline. Some of its notable specialties include Nursing-Anesthesia and Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist.

7. Yale University – New Haven, CT

Yale was the first independent University-based school of nursing, founded in 1923. In addition to its graduate degree programs, Yale has a Graduate Entry Pre-specialty in Nursing (GEPN) program, which is intended for students with a bachelor's degree but no background in nursing.

Andrea Erins runs the website site www.mastersineducation.com. She has been a college professor for 13 years and likes to write about various topics related to education.

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Nurse Rock! Nurses week T shirt contest

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 05 May 2011 01:28:00 +0000

Attention all creative types.. check out this contest. :) There's over $2000 worth of prizes!

http://www.fibers.com/contests/nurses-week-2011

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Role of nurses in chronic illness/long term care

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 02 May 2011 22:03:00 +0000

Here is a guest post by Eric Stevenson.

Eric Stevenson is a health and safety advocate who resides in Orlando Florida.

Role of nurses in chronic illness/long term care

The role of a nurse is often lost in translation when it comes to patients with terminal and chronic illnesses. Some may write them off as an afterthought, but continued research has shown that nurses all over are having a major effect on patients with chronic illness, especially in a monitoring role.

For many of those with chronic or terminal illnesses, around the clock monitoring and care are often a necessity. It seems that nurses are truly the only option for this type of care. In the past, patients would usually be cared by a family doctor throughout their treatment process. In today’s medical world, most patients are seeing specialized medicine and physicians. Throughout the influx and changing of different physicians, the nurse is often the one who may have the best eye for the patient, primarily because of the extended amount of time that they are around.

A nurse is often able to see the different changes and attitudes of a patient, as well as the way they are reacting to medicine. They will usually also play a large role in keeping families and friends aware of the treatment process, keeping them educated and knowledgeable about the process. For these patients who will often deal with extended amounts of treatment and therapy, the nurse is often the one consistent throughout the process. Even more so important is this consistency of a nurse. In today’s world of medicine, much is in and out, fast paced and speedy. A consistent nurse allows a patient someone who can answer questions and provide some personality and intimacy into the health care regimen.

Recent research into diabetes and heart disease patients has been taken to measure the importance of a nurse’s role in their health care process. This research allowed for a structured process of visits and monitoring from a nurse, continuing to show how important a nurse can be for patients with terminal illness, especially in battling depression

A good example of a terminal illness that nurses can play a large role in is with patients of mesothelioma. Certainly a nurse is able to have an effect on all patients, but to those with terminal illness, they can be especially important. This disease in specific can benefit from the care of a nurse because of the extremely short outlook that many patients have. For example, mesothelioma life expectancy is only an average of a year or less. A nurse’s time with some of these patients is critical because just like most diseases with short spans after diagnosis, it’s critical that they be given as much positivity and support in cherishing their time. The closeness that a nurse can often provide can be especially important with these patients.

Certainly a nurse can play a large role in any type of situation. For people who are suffering from terminal and chronic illness, a nurse can be of extra importance, however. Allowing for someone who is likely more familiar with a patients case to be consistently around, will allow for patients to develop a familiarity and comfort in their treatment and therapy process.

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How do I know if I have a cold or flu?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Flu has definitely arrived.. thankfully I have only seen a handful of cases but they have all been in the last 2 weeks.

How do I know if I have a cold or flu?

Flu starts suddenly. You were fine and now BOOM you're sick and you feel awful.
Colds start gradually. 3 days you had a scratchy throat, then you had a stuffy nose now today you have a little cough.

Flu has a high fever. Can be 102 or higher.
Cold may have a fever but not usually as high. More like 100.

Flu has a dry cough that can be persistent.
Cold usually has a moist cough that is usually worse at night because of postnasal drip.

Flu has body aches that can be reallly severe.
Cold doesn't usually have body aches.

Flu can last 10 days.
Cold usually lasts 5-7 days.

Hope this helps differentiate things for you. It's not too late to get your flu shot..
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Antibiotic prescribing survey

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Been away lately.. new job.. yada yada yada..

I promise to get back to posting more frequently but in the mean time here is a link to a suvey about antibiotic prescribing.

Click here to take survey

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Is diaper rash contagious?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Here's a good question:

One of my twins has a very red raised diaper rash, and the pediatrician said to use an anti fungal cream on it. Do you think we should avoid putting the twins in the bath together? What about using the same changing pad?

Yeast isn't spread in the bathtub. It shouldn't be a problem. You may want to clean the changing pad between kids but won't make the other kid get the rash.

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When do I need to take my child to the doctor?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 23:06:00 +0000

I have started a new job in a pediatrician's office in addition to my emergency department adventures. I've been in the primary care world but not for the past five years. I'm quickly realizing a lot of things have changed in primary care.

Insurance plans have changed a lot and most people have to pay more to see the doctor. We have a high deductible plan this year which means that our insurance doesn't pay ANYTHING until we reach $2600. So needless to say it's making me think twice about running off to the doctor unless I'm sure we need to.

When to take your child to the doctor depends on your comfort level, your child and your doctor. If you are worried about your child then you need to take them to be seen. You should always be able to call and talk to someone in the office who will give you guidance.

If your child has a cough and runny nose for a day, they probably have a cold and don't need to be seen. If your child has been coughing for 10 days and now has a fever and isn't getting better then they probably need to be seen. As your child gets older and you get more experience taking care of a sick kid you will get an idea of when they should be seen.

If you have more than one child who have the same symptoms it is more likely they have a virus. Kids share colds all the time. They don't usually share pneumonia. You really don't need to bring them all in to be told they all have a cold.

There is no right or wrong answer when to bring your child to the doctor. If you are unsure, call your doctor and ask for guidance. It is never wrong to be reassured that your child is ok.

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