VICKS VAPO RUB - INTERESTING
During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can absorb oils Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it.
Some of us have used Vicks Vapo rub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. A new way to use it -and it works, I've tried it with 2 of my kids- And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why. To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks Vapo rub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime, then cover with socks. Even persistent,
heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong
prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soot hing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.
Just happened to tune in AM. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good, due to the chemical makeup of these strong drugs so, I listened. It was a surprise finding and found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime, in addition to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.
You'll be amazed how it works and how effective it is. Just give it a try.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Funny SNL skit about incontinent people
This is the very funny Oops, I crapped my pants skit from SNL. It is way too funny.
Please wash your hands
If you've ever seen someone not wash their hands after using the restroom, or you yourself may be guilty of this once in a while....this link might make you or someone else think twice about skipping the handwashing. It is an amazing story you just have to see.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Another day in the ED
Like I said last quarter of my Emergency Department (ED) rotation that it was my favorite, and it still stands as my very favorite rotation yet. I'd like to preface with the famous words of Chris Farley in Tommy Boy, "That was AWESOME!"
Really, it was. I went on a Friday night and morbidly hoped something bad would happen to people so I could see and help out in any way. Well, bad things did happen...unfortunately for the pts, but great for me. I assisted a male RN that night. Here is a few things I saw and did that happened:
1. A man sawed his middle finger about 1 1/2 inches long and it was open, oozing blood with bones and tendons showing. The distal portion was just hanging, and it obviously needed surgery. I IV-pushed some pain meds. I irrigated and flushed his open, gaping wound to clear debris and other particles out of it. It was a little messy, but so cool. Surprisingly, I didn't get queasy.
2. A woman fractured her tibia and I wrapped her leg in an ortho stirrup binder that hardens and stabilized the leg until her surgery 3 days out. I had only seen it done once before, but I got a chance to bind, wrap and secure her leg.
3. I started an IV (the 1st try), on a patient. She was going to have a lumbar puncture to test her cerebro-spinal fluid. I watched the MD poke, dig and finally find a spot where CSF fluid leaked out. When it comes out it is a clear liquid and about the same consistency of blood. I took the samples to the lab which came up negative.
4. An elderly gentleman needed a Foley catheter in. I took the assignment and went to work. The normal Foley tube is pliable, and it wouldn't go all the way through to his bladder. He had a large prostate. With a sterile technique, I used a Coude catheter. The tip is curved and firm. With a little elbow grease, I successfully got the catheter in and was able to measure his output.
5. I did a respiratory assessment on a little 1yo with RSV. Not much else, but it was great to hear the baby's lung sounds and breath sounds.
6. I helped clean a "mentally challenged" pt's briefs. He was a very touchy-feely kid. Luckily he tried to kiss the male RN and not me. :)
7. And finally, the winner of the night goes to: A trauma patient with a respiratory code!
The patient came in from the ambulance. He was breathing, but unconscious and not responding. I arrived to the room and it reeked of stale urine. The man was unconscious for at least 1 day, maybe 2. He had soiled his pants and it was disgusting. With the foul urine smell, he had stunk up the entire ER in a matter of minutes. In the ambulance, the paramedic tried to intubate him, but went down his esophagus and was putting O2 into his stomach. When I saw him his stomach was so distended it looked like it was going to pop. The MD tried 2x's intubating him, and another MD was ready with scalpel in hand to give him a tracheotomy. Good for the patient, the MD finally got the ET tube in. Once they put an NG tube in, his stomach became much flatter. They needed all hands on deck. I couldn't help because in a code/trauma situation, I as a student am unable to help because it is not within my scope of practice yet. So they asked me to record everything they did to the patient, including meds given and the amount and the procedures performed. I documented all the MD's orders for meds and labs to perform. Also I had to take vitals every 5 minutes on the guy. They were able to stabilize him and bring his O2 sats to 92% up from 78% at its lowest. He stabilized and was sent for a CT scan and then to ICU. It was quite exciting in that one room. It took over an hour and it was impressive of how the doctors and nurses worked so quickly and calmly under all that stress.
Working in the ED is something I think I can definitely do in my nursing career. Let's just see how I like OB and I might change my mind.
Really, it was. I went on a Friday night and morbidly hoped something bad would happen to people so I could see and help out in any way. Well, bad things did happen...unfortunately for the pts, but great for me. I assisted a male RN that night. Here is a few things I saw and did that happened:
1. A man sawed his middle finger about 1 1/2 inches long and it was open, oozing blood with bones and tendons showing. The distal portion was just hanging, and it obviously needed surgery. I IV-pushed some pain meds. I irrigated and flushed his open, gaping wound to clear debris and other particles out of it. It was a little messy, but so cool. Surprisingly, I didn't get queasy.
2. A woman fractured her tibia and I wrapped her leg in an ortho stirrup binder that hardens and stabilized the leg until her surgery 3 days out. I had only seen it done once before, but I got a chance to bind, wrap and secure her leg.
3. I started an IV (the 1st try), on a patient. She was going to have a lumbar puncture to test her cerebro-spinal fluid. I watched the MD poke, dig and finally find a spot where CSF fluid leaked out. When it comes out it is a clear liquid and about the same consistency of blood. I took the samples to the lab which came up negative.
4. An elderly gentleman needed a Foley catheter in. I took the assignment and went to work. The normal Foley tube is pliable, and it wouldn't go all the way through to his bladder. He had a large prostate. With a sterile technique, I used a Coude catheter. The tip is curved and firm. With a little elbow grease, I successfully got the catheter in and was able to measure his output.
5. I did a respiratory assessment on a little 1yo with RSV. Not much else, but it was great to hear the baby's lung sounds and breath sounds.
6. I helped clean a "mentally challenged" pt's briefs. He was a very touchy-feely kid. Luckily he tried to kiss the male RN and not me. :)
7. And finally, the winner of the night goes to: A trauma patient with a respiratory code!
The patient came in from the ambulance. He was breathing, but unconscious and not responding. I arrived to the room and it reeked of stale urine. The man was unconscious for at least 1 day, maybe 2. He had soiled his pants and it was disgusting. With the foul urine smell, he had stunk up the entire ER in a matter of minutes. In the ambulance, the paramedic tried to intubate him, but went down his esophagus and was putting O2 into his stomach. When I saw him his stomach was so distended it looked like it was going to pop. The MD tried 2x's intubating him, and another MD was ready with scalpel in hand to give him a tracheotomy. Good for the patient, the MD finally got the ET tube in. Once they put an NG tube in, his stomach became much flatter. They needed all hands on deck. I couldn't help because in a code/trauma situation, I as a student am unable to help because it is not within my scope of practice yet. So they asked me to record everything they did to the patient, including meds given and the amount and the procedures performed. I documented all the MD's orders for meds and labs to perform. Also I had to take vitals every 5 minutes on the guy. They were able to stabilize him and bring his O2 sats to 92% up from 78% at its lowest. He stabilized and was sent for a CT scan and then to ICU. It was quite exciting in that one room. It took over an hour and it was impressive of how the doctors and nurses worked so quickly and calmly under all that stress.
Working in the ED is something I think I can definitely do in my nursing career. Let's just see how I like OB and I might change my mind.
My day in Outpatient
Last week, I had another rotation. This time it was in outpatient surgery. This is where pre-op prep takes place for minor surgeries, such as cataracts...etc. I say cataracts, because the nurse I was assisting took only the 'eye' patients that day. This was my day to shine as I put in every IV possible.
The day before my friend went to outpatient. She tried to give 6 IV's, but none would take. She was so bummed that she was 0/6, and I thought, "that's not going to be me." Well I started the morning off on a bad foot. In outpatient, they give lidocaine to the IV site to numb it up. On the floor, they don't do that. I've started many-a-IV on the floor and for the most part it's no problem...as long as there's a good vein to poke.
I gave the first patient lidocaine right next to the vein, where the nurse instructed me to put it. Unfortunately, it moved the vein to the side and my line got all screwed up. I was unsuccessful. The second time I did the same thing. After that I thought, "It's the curse of the nursing student!" I thought surely, the third time must be a charm. Right? Well, I asked the nurse how to avoid moving the vein like that and I placed it just below where I wanted to place the IV, so it didn't move the vein to either side. Well, I was successful, but my hands were shaking. :)
I had many other opportunities and at the end of the day I was 6/10. I'm not completely proud of myself, but I am just so glad I wasn't 0/6 that day.
Now that I have had so much more experience and practiced with my dexterity and how I like to do it, I have a much better handle on it and I'm so ready to give more IV's. Anyone want to volunteer?
The day before my friend went to outpatient. She tried to give 6 IV's, but none would take. She was so bummed that she was 0/6, and I thought, "that's not going to be me." Well I started the morning off on a bad foot. In outpatient, they give lidocaine to the IV site to numb it up. On the floor, they don't do that. I've started many-a-IV on the floor and for the most part it's no problem...as long as there's a good vein to poke.
I gave the first patient lidocaine right next to the vein, where the nurse instructed me to put it. Unfortunately, it moved the vein to the side and my line got all screwed up. I was unsuccessful. The second time I did the same thing. After that I thought, "It's the curse of the nursing student!" I thought surely, the third time must be a charm. Right? Well, I asked the nurse how to avoid moving the vein like that and I placed it just below where I wanted to place the IV, so it didn't move the vein to either side. Well, I was successful, but my hands were shaking. :)
I had many other opportunities and at the end of the day I was 6/10. I'm not completely proud of myself, but I am just so glad I wasn't 0/6 that day.
Now that I have had so much more experience and practiced with my dexterity and how I like to do it, I have a much better handle on it and I'm so ready to give more IV's. Anyone want to volunteer?
In the ICU
Last week I had some great opportunities in my clinicals for various rotations. The first was in the ICU. I took two patients. The first had multiple diagnoses and her labs were constantly changing, so I had to keep a good eye on her. Other than the Acute Renal Failure, Acute Arthritis, new onset diabetes, anemia, low neutrophil count (which she had to be in isolation), she was pretty much independent. Come to find out, that she had a coronary stent in place and was taking Plavix to keep her arteries clear, that it was having an adverse reaction. The Plavix was decreasing her red blood cells and white blood cells. She had 2 units of blood transfused and after a few days in isolation she perked back up. It was a very interesting case & patient to give care for.
The other patient was pretty cool. She came in with cellulitis of the leg, and during her stay, she went into septic shock. Not cool. While treating her septic shock, she developed Acute Respiratory Distress Sydnrome (ARDS). That is when the alveoli in the lungs fill up with thick fluid-like secretions and is unable to do the CO2 & O2 exchange (that sustains breathing). The x-ray showed a lot of infiltrates in her lungs. She was intubated and then mechanically ventilated. I saw her the week prior and she was in really bad condition. When I had her, she was somewhat alert and able to nod her head yes & no to questions. I got to learn a lot about mechanically vented pts and the intense care that is given. I helped provide full care for this patient alongside a RN. I was able to get a lot of hands-on experience with her and learn so much.
I really enjoyed the ICU, but I don't think I am at a point in my nursing career/profession that I am able to critically think as quick as the RN's do. I know that will come in time, but The pts in the ICU require so much care and monitoring it is quite overwhelming, partly because I don't have ICU training. I think I will continue in my search of the perfect avenue of nursing to pursue.
The other patient was pretty cool. She came in with cellulitis of the leg, and during her stay, she went into septic shock. Not cool. While treating her septic shock, she developed Acute Respiratory Distress Sydnrome (ARDS). That is when the alveoli in the lungs fill up with thick fluid-like secretions and is unable to do the CO2 & O2 exchange (that sustains breathing). The x-ray showed a lot of infiltrates in her lungs. She was intubated and then mechanically ventilated. I saw her the week prior and she was in really bad condition. When I had her, she was somewhat alert and able to nod her head yes & no to questions. I got to learn a lot about mechanically vented pts and the intense care that is given. I helped provide full care for this patient alongside a RN. I was able to get a lot of hands-on experience with her and learn so much.
I really enjoyed the ICU, but I don't think I am at a point in my nursing career/profession that I am able to critically think as quick as the RN's do. I know that will come in time, but The pts in the ICU require so much care and monitoring it is quite overwhelming, partly because I don't have ICU training. I think I will continue in my search of the perfect avenue of nursing to pursue.
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