World Suicide Prevention Day 2015 : Why We Need To Talk About Depression Now! #worldsuicidepreventionday

According to the recently released World Health Organization (WHO) report:Preventing Suicide: A Global Imperative, over 800,000 people die by suicide across the world each year. The report notes that this estimate is conservative, with the real figure likely to be higher because of the stigma associated with suicide, lack of reliable death recording procedures, and religious or legal sanctions against suicide in some countries.

We may not be able to pinpoint the exact figure, but we do know that each individual suicide is a tragic loss of life. It is hard to imagine the extreme psychological pain that leads someone to decide that suicide is the only course of action. Reaching out to someone who is struggling can make a difference.

‘Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving Lives’ is the theme of the 2015 World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention(IASP) and the WHO, a co-sponsor of meetings and events related to WSPD 2015.. Since 2003, WSPD has taken place on 10th September each year. It serves as a call to action to individuals and organizations to prevent suicide. This year, the theme encourages us all to consider the role that offering support may play in combating suicide.

The act of showing care and concern to someone who may be vulnerable to suicide can be a game-changer. Asking them whether they are OK, listening to what they have to say in a non-judgmental way, and letting them know you care, can all have a significant impact. Isolation increases the risk of suicide, and, conversely, having strong social connections is protective against it, so being there for someone who has become disconnected can be life-saving.

Reaching out to those who have been bereaved by suicide

Suicide is devastating for families, friends and community members who are left behind. They may experience a whole range of emotions, including grief, anger, guilt, disbelief and self-blame.They may not feel that they can share these overwhelming feelings with anyone else. Therefore, reaching out to those who have lost someone to suicide is very important.

As a result of the stigma surrounding suicide, those who are bereaved by suicide are often perceived differently from those who lose a family member through another cause of death. People who are bereaved may find that they are avoided by people who don’t know how to broach the subject or offer their condolences. Or they may just feel that others do not understand the intensity of their emotional response to the death of their loved one.

Once again, a pro-active approach and offering a sympathetic, non-judgmental ear can make all the difference. Giving someone who has been bereaved by suicide the opportunity to talk about their loss, in their own time, on their own terms, can be a precious gift. Allowing them to express their full range of feelings can be cathartic, and can help them to take the first small step in moving through their grief. Starting the conversation may be difficult, but it will almost certainly be appreciated.

Reaching out to put people in touch with relevant services

Although the support of friends and relatives is crucial for people who may be at risk of suicide and for people who have lost someone to suicide, it is not always enough. Often more formal help is also needed. Such help can take many forms, and is likely to vary from country to country. In high-income countries, it may include specialist mental health services and primary care providers, both of which offer clinical care. It may also include a range of community organisations which provide non-clinical support, as well as support groups and self-help groups. In low- and middle-income countries, the more clinically-focused services are less readily available, and there is a heavier reliance on community organizations. Part of reaching out to vulnerable individuals can involve helping to link them to relevant services.

Reaching out to the suicide prevention community

There is strength in numbers. Around the globe, many individuals and organizations are involved in efforts to prevent suicide. We can learn from each other, and strengthen the evidence base for effective interventions. Reaching out to those who are travelling the same road increases the likelihood that our collective efforts to reduce the numbers of people who die by suicide, and the numbers of people for whom these deaths have shattering effects, will be successful.

Reaching out on World Suicide Prevention Day

On September 10th, join with others around the world who are working towards the common goal of preventing suicide. Check in on someone you may be concerned about, listen to what they say, how they say it and show them kindness and support. Investigate ways of linking in with others who are trying to prevent suicide in your community, your country, or internationally. Show your support by organizing or taking part in a WSPD activity in your area and/or join in with IASP’s Cycle Around the Globe.

Please, reach out and save lives.

Credit: IASP- World Suicide Prevention https://www.iasp.info/wspd/

Light a Candle Near a Window at 8pm on September 10th 

Nurses Are The Worst..........What?

Nurses are many things to many people, we are called many things from angels to saints, but the one thing I can admit myself is that this nurse is the worst.....patient. Yes, I have a hard time doing what I should be doing, taking care of me. I am getting better at it though, I have learned that oh so hard lesson of saying no and not taking on so much. Lessons I have had to learn the hard way, trial by fire. 
Giving so much of ourselves to others and the inability to say "no" can leave any nurse without the proper time to care for herself or himself. Burned out nurses leave the profession everyday because they forget the importance of self care.

Self  care is as important as patient care now, you must advocate for yourself because nobody else will. 

Many of us work 12 hours, night shifts, over-time, 2nd jobs, go to school, then turn around and have to go home to a house full of kids, disabled spouses or elderly parents that might be ill too. I know I work a weekender position, but often feel like I work 7 days a week due to the stressors of having a disabled husband and homeschooling my kiddos. There is always something at our house to do or somewhere to go. 

Have you ever gone to work tired, irritable, lacking sleep and felt like you took that frustration out on your coworkers or even your patients? How about going to work and feeling sicker than the patients that you were caring for? Those things should not be happening. 

Taking care of yourself on a daily basis, balancing work and home environments, decreasing the level of stress you feel and learning some tools to educate yourself so you can be your own healthcare advocate will lead to a nurse that enjoys taking care of others again.

List of Awesome Self Care Tools: these are just some of the things that I find to be helpful

1. Learn how to say "NO"- this is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. You don't have to do it all, your kids don't need to do every sport or club at school, let them pick one they love. The time you spend at home as a family they will cherish more later on. 
2. SLEEP- your body heals itself and repairs itself while you sleep, you have got to get some sleep!! forget this staying up all day and trying to work all night long (unless you want to land in a ditch dead one day- that's where you are headed). I use essential oils to help me sleep, a little lavender or vetiver oil on my feet at bedtime and I have no trouble sleeping day or night.
3. ROUTINE- get yourself into a routine- your body will thank you- your sleep will come easier- for instance I work night shifts on the weekends, so my routine is to stay up all night at home on Friday nights and sleep on Saturday- my family knows this is my routine and I get my sleep, everybody is happy and I am awake to drive to work safely. What kind of routines can you set up during the week? Make a white board for the kitchen and write your routine on it, tell the family you are going to follow this, they will love you for it.
4. Eat whole foods, fresh foods and don't go without meals- this is just a no brainer, Food is energy..........if we don't eat, we don't get the fuel we need to function. Crap in is Crap out.....right?
5. Add Probiotics to your daily supplement regimen - this is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself healthy. Your gut health is one of the most important things, it is like your 2nd brain! Billions of good bacteria live in your gut and they need to stay healthy to help you fight off any threats to your immunity. Just do it! 
6. Exercise- yes I know you are saying, when am I gonna fit that into my busy schedule, well a walk 3 time a week will make you feel so much better I am telling you. Even though I have arthritis and chronic pain, I can manage to get some walking into my busy schedule so I know you can do it too. Work your way up to swimming, biking, hiking and other activities that you can do together as a family. We love to go hiking in the mountains, it does not even feel like we are exercising but we are. Exercise is fantastic for your mood and your joints!
7. Laugh! humor is such a stress reliever, smile daily and find something to laugh about. Think positive and your life will be positive. 
8. Music soothes the savage beast-- you! I love to crank up the tunes and just get lost in the music when I am in the car, it helps me calm down and destress on the way home from work.
9. Leave your work at the door!! As an ER nurse for over 28 years now I have learned many strategies to cope with the things we see in the ER. The biggest thing is learning to leave it at the door when I clock out, that has helped me more than anything. I don't take my job home with me, or talk about what happened at work with my spouse or kids. It's just like a switch, I just turn it off. ( Unless something tragic happened, we debrief and talk at work before we even leave work- highly recommended).
10. Get organized-- get a day- planner and write everything in that planner, including your days off work, trips to the spa, your mani-pedi appt, all the things you can look forward too, schedule date nights with your significant other. Organize your house, keep things simple, don't overwhelm yourself with clutter. Plan and keep a routine for cleaning,laundry grocery shopping, bill paying etc. 
11. Slow down and Breathe! learn meditation- it is a great way to connect with your inner self and de-stress. Prayer is a fantastic way to help you in your self care journey. 
12. Try Aromatherapy- I discovered the power of essential oils and have fallen in love with the wonderful benefits they have provided my family and my health. We have felt so much better since discovering the value of these gifts from above that have been around for billions of years.
13. Unplug and get outside- yes you can do it, leave that phone, tablet, laptop or other digital device off and get outside, breath some air, smell the flowers or fresh crisp leaves or newly cut grass. We spend so much time connected to our devices that we have lost the connection to ourselves and others.
14. Explore Alternative Holistic Healthcare Options- we are always taught to use western medicine in our healthcare practices that we often forget the benefits of other types of medicine out there. I am learning so much more about the natural medicine model and a more "whole body" &  holistic approach to medicine. Medicine is much more that just prescribing a pill all the time, right?

These tips and tools are only good if you apply them, your patients, coworkers and family will surely appreciate a nurse that is the best ..................nurse he/she can be.

This post was written as part of the Nurse Blog Carnival. More posts on this topic can be found at http://thebossynurse.com. If you are interested in participating find out more details and sign up.

How Your Gut Bacteria Affects Your Brain and Body

Recent studies suggest bacteria in our digestive tract can play a large role in our overall health. Depression, anxiety, autism, schizophrenia, obesity, cancer and irritable bowel syndrome are just a few of the major complications gut bacteria can create.

Some even call our gut the "2nd brain" because it affects so many systems within the body.
Via Medicinenet.com:

"Research has shown that the network of neurons lining our guts is so extensive that is has now been nicknamed our "second brain" or "other brain." This gut "brain" doesn't think for us, but it does play a key role in certain diseases and communicates with the brain in our skulls.

Our "second brain" is known as the enteric nervous system. It is a collection of neurons in the gastrointestinal tract. Its role is to manage every aspect of digestion in all the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon. It uses over 100 million neurons and some of the same chemicals things that can be found in your "other" brain, including neurotransmitters and neuropeptides.

Within your gastrointestinal tract, there is intestinal microflora or microbiota. This complex ecosystem contains over 400 bacterial species. Small amounts can be found in your stomach and small intestines, but the majority is found in your colon. The intestinal microflora aid in digestion, synthesize vitamins and nutrients, metabolize some medications, support the development and functioning of the gut, and enhance the immune system."

With over 5,000 species of bacteria living in the gut, we have a mix of good and bad microbes. Helicobacter Pylori causes ulcers, while Lactobacilli may ward off stress and anxiety.

Keeping a healthy digestive system is very important. Taking probiotics daily is one of the best solutions to achieve your health goals.

More than a third of depression sufferers have  a "leaky gut" lining that will allow bacteria to seep into the bloodstream.

Prebiotics/Probiotics taken on a regular basis can have a anti-anxiety and antidepressant effect.

Can you believe that something this simple can make such a difference in your health and wellness? It can, if your gut flora and balance gets "off" the rest of the body will suffer.

Doctors and other healthcare providers write prescriptions so freely for antibiotics and anti-fungal medications, but fail to tell patients about the most important plan of care. Taking a probiotic or increasing the consumption of foods that contain fermented foods that are high in probiotics.

Where can I get more information on probiotics?

USProbiotics.org (http://www.usprobiotics.org/)

"Herbs and Supplements," MedlinePlus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/herb_All.html)

Wow that is impressive, imagine all the diseases and chronic health issues we could change or fix with just the balancing of a patients gut? Your gut?
I know I feel so much better since I have adjusted my diet and started taking a probiotic daily, my immune system has been stronger in the process too.

Until next time.................

The Guide To Good Bacteria: Trillions of Friends

 

Good bacteria you ask? How can bacteria be good? You have trillions of good bacteria living inside right now, they help keep you well.

With over 100 trillion bacteria in our bodies we need all the good bacteria we can get. 80% of our immune system is in our gut, we need to have a healthy balance of good bacteria for it to fight off the bad.

 

I recently had a first hand experience that taught me a most valuable lesson about the relationship between my immune system and the good bacteria that lives within me.
Back in January of 2015 I developed a stubborn dental infection that required a stronger antibiotic by mouth for 10 days. After taking this medication I developed some gastrointestinal distress and general feelings of "something was just not right". As a nurse I am very in-tuned to my own body and health so I realized that the antibiotics I had been taking most likely had just wiped out the good bacteria in my gut and the bad bacteria were possibly taking over.
Several weeks went by and my GI issues just got worse, diarrhea, weight loss (15 pounds) nausea, dizziness and just feeling bad all the time. So finally I went to the doctor (nurses are so stubborn), I was diagnosed with C-diff (Clostridium Difficile) a very serious infection of the gi tract that is very difficult to get rid of.

After weeks/months of medications, diet changes and finally a natural medicine/essential oils regimen I was able to get rid of the nasty bug and get well again. Now I tell every patient that I give an antibiotic prescription to get a probiotic and take it every single day. Probiotics will keep the good bacteria in check and healthy, so that your gut can help keep you well.

 

 

 

Sweet Smell Of Health and Wellness ~ Peppermint #oilspotlight #essentialoils #nursestoolkit

Sweet smell of health and wellness-- Peppermint

Peppermint Oil 

One of my favorites, mixed with Lavender essential oil and applied to my temples, the bottom of my feet and back of my neck. Migraine gone!

I am a super believer in the power of essential oils, I have used many of them on myself, my family and even my pets. Amazing results from something from nature and not in a pill! 

~My Nurse Health Tool Kit with Peppermint~

• Anti-Nausea – Just put a drop in your water and drink it slowly. Also, rubbing a drop on your tummy soothes nausea.
• Clear Sinuses – Place on your feet, temples, chest, or simple inhale the peppermint oil. 
• Reduce Hunger Cravings – Place a drop or two in your water and drink in between meals.
• Fever-reducer – Simply place a drop on each foot or in bath water (mix with coconut oil or other carrier oil to apply to children's feet)
• Breath Freshener – place a drop on your tongue.
• Headache Relief – place a drop on your temples or the back of your neck where your pressure points are located ( I mix Lavender and sometimes Frankincense oils with Peppermint for my headache fix) 
• Bug Repellent – Place a few drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls and place where the bugs are coming in. Also, it will deter mice, spiders hate this stuff.
• Eliminates Motion Sickness – Place a drop on your tummy and temples. Also, drinking a glass of water with a drop of oil during the ride will help eliminate motion sickness.
• Diminishes Indigestion– Gently place a drop on your navel when you are experiencing uncomfortable indigestion.
• Soothes Sore Muscles – I like soaking in a tub with a few drops of peppermint oil or just rubbing the oil on your sore muscles (Add lavender, baking soda, Epson salts for a fantastic detox bath!)
• Prevents Dandruff – Place a few drops of peppermint oil in your bottle of shampoo, add some Melaluca(tea tree) oil for really stubborn flaky scalps.
• Hot Flash relief-- rub some oil on the back of your neck, forehead and anywhere else you need some cooling relief menopauseal ladies, I can attest that this really works (I put some in a roller ball with fractionated coconut oil or with witch-hazel and keep in my pocket at work-- Ahhhhhh relief) 
• Study and mental recall aid- diffuse peppermint in your study room to help with recalling information. Inhale to increase your oxygen intake by at least 25% and have better alertness.
• Night nurse pick me up- mix with lemon oil in your water and this will wake you up (make sure to use a glass or metal container) this also keeps me awake on the drive home in the am.
• Flavorings of course for all sorts of yummy recipes, I will add some soon. 
• I am sure I will think of more and add later...........

Want to learn more? click HERE for more information 

Below is a fantastic video about my favorite oil- Peppermint by one of my favorite doctors- Dr Josh Axe (draxe.com)

A simple guide to essential oils~ why are you not using them?

I can't tell you how much better I feel today by just using essential oils in my daily life. Yes I still have the usual aches and pains of a nurse that has worked for nearly 30 years, but my wellness and health is improving so much more everyday. All thanks to these wonderful little drops of love!

Stay tuned and I will share more with you, tips, recipes and other helpful hints on your health and wellness.

Order your Essential Oil tool kit today HERE  and get started on your new path.

Vaccines Save Lives #education #health #wellness

Yes vaccines are arguably the greatest technological development of the 20th century. Immunizations have been so effective at eradicating diseases such as measles, mumps, small pox, polio and chicken pox that many Americans have never seen a case of these diseases. I myself can remember having the mumps along with my 2 brothers then we all 3 got the chicken pox, then our poor daddy got the mumps ( as an adult having the mumps was not fun and he was very sick for a long time) My poor mom was worn out by the time our household finally got well, she was a superstar (God rest her soul) I can't believe she took care of all of us without complaining one bit.
This day and time you just don't see these types of diseases anymore due to our great jobs getting immunized so far. I am afraid this might just change soon due to parents who have chosen not to vaccinate their children for whatever reason they might choose.

Think about what you are doing before you choose not to vaccinate, educate yourself with the right information (not off You-tube videos) and think about the many life's of others that might be affected if your child comes down with one of these diseases and spreads it. These diseases can kill, that is why we vaccinate....to save lives.

see the pdf of this infographic HERE :   http://www.wellnessctr.org/wellness-corner/upload/immunization_web.pdf

Healing Presence Is An Art Form #ArtofNursing #nurseblogcarnival #nurses #finearts

The art of nursing - that healing presence and patient-focused practice first envisioned by Florence Nightingale.

When we think of the term " fine art" most often we envision a beautiful painting, sculpture or drawing comes to mind doesn't it? Nursing and healing is not the first thing that pops into your head when you think fine art, but the art of nursing is a fine and artful profession.

The Fine Arts
Nursing Art dates back many years to times of our predecessors. I love vintage nursing art and photography from all eras. The nursing profession has come such a long way since cotton cloth bandages and needles sharpened by the nurse, not some sterile factory many miles away. Necessity was the father of invention most days as nurses used whatever means they had to heal and care for the sick and wounded.

Timeless is the the quote from Florence Nightingale, "Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter's or sculptor's work; for what is the having to do with the dead canvas or dead marble, compared to having to do with the living body, the temple of God's spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said the finest of Fine Arts."

The Mission Field

Nursing is an art of devotion, it requires a type of selfless hands on healing presence. No matter the era of time or style of uniform worn nursing the sick and injured has the same from the heart art of caring and skillful touch of the "nurse". Task oriented robot nursing has no place in the "art" of true caring and healing, but sadly so many young nurslings go into this field with the task at hand attitude. Financial gains can also lead a nurse into the profession for some wrong reasons. 

Most of us can agree that we did not go into nursing for the monetary gain, but something more....something deeper within our beings. Many nurses like myself felt a spiritual calling from above to care for others. I have always called my work my mission field, as God seems to lead me in the path of those patients that most need my care or experiences. 

These Hands of Mine:

These hands of mine do not appear like a work of art that anybody wants to look at, they are worn, tired, wrinkled now and dotted in age spots, scarred up and poorly manicured. If my hands could talk they might just tell you of the many years they have been a healing presence in healthcare. How they helped me put on that very first jr volunteer (candy-striper) uniform so proudly at age 15, that eventually lead me into the field of nursing (even though I wanted to be a veterinarian).

These wrinkles might tell you many happy and sad stories of over 28 years of working in the Emergency Department, of holding many hands and giving many hugs to patients, families and co-workers. The power of touch has such a healing effect, these hands have tried to make a difference in the compassionate care we give others. Just like we use our ears to listen, we use our hands to open that conversation up and say "I care about you".  These hands have held newborn babies as new life emerges, and held the dying as life faded away. There has to be an art to using your hands I believe.

The Art Of Nursing

Nursing is a timeless art of healing and devotion to care. No matter what area you work in or what level of education you may have we all practice a selfless beautiful art form. Like the painter focus's on the blank canvas, the nurse focus's on her patient and paints a picture of compassionate healing. She/He uses the tools of the nursing practice (stethoscope, bandages, scissors and such) like the artist uses a brush or sculptor uses tools to sculpt a form. 

Art of Self Care, Self Love:

Remember to also take time to focus on yourself as the healer, your ability to practice your art form is only as good as you are. The Art of self-care is just as important in our lives as caring for our patients is to our mission fields. The artist can not paint if he is not well enough to lift his paint brush to the canvas and paint the picture that is from his heart.

The same thing is true for the healthcare provider that does not feel well, the care that flows from your hands is just not the same as when you are healthy and able to give your full attention to the tasks at hand, caring for your patients. 

The Art of Nursing 2.0 May 5-8th 2015 is a great way to help you practice, heal your spirits and improve your art form, check out the event and sign up HERE! This 4 day virtual event coincides with Nurses Week this year. 

This post was written as part of the Nurse Blog Carnival. More posts on this topic can be found at  ElizabethScala.com. Find out how to participate click the box below and join us!

Book Review: "Nursing From Within" by Elizabeth Scala #nurse #bookreview #selfcare

Elizabeth Scala is a nursing colleague and friend of mine, so I was happy to review one of her latest endeavors. One of Amazon's hot New Releases from the Nursing book list: Nursing from Within

Lighting A Spark Within Me
It was pure pleasure to read such an inspirational book for nurses, the read came at a time in my own life when I needed some inspiring and healing words. As nurses we are taught to care for others and we do that very well, so well that we sometimes (most all the time) take on more and more challenges. We care for others so well that we don't take the time to take care of ourselves. I have to admit this book resonated with my soul as I turned each page. I am that nurse that has always been way to busy to take care of herself. What the heck is "self love" I had to ask myself, do people actually do that? They did not teach this concept in nursing school way back when (we won't discuss how long that's been...lol)
Self-care is such an important part of nursing care, if we are not well, how can we help others get well?
This is something I am actively working on day by day, one day at a time. Elizabeth's book has helped me light a spark within me that I hope can ignite an inferno that will glow from inside out.

"Nursing From Within" is about a true deep and inner connection with the spirit of self"

You Can Teach Old Dogs New Tricks (or Tools for Life)
As an older (yikes) more experienced or well seasoned (or burned out) nurse I can relate to Elizabeth's advice throughout the book, even though her advice hit home way to often. Positive thinking throughout the book was very refreshing and kept me engaged with each page turn. I needed this self evaluation and inner focus to the "Nurse" within me. Young or old, most of us went into the nursing profession for the same reasons, we care about others. We just need some positive tools to help us do our jobs better, starting with the most important person first, you..... the nurse!

Elizabeth teaches some simple tools that she developed to help nurses become happier and healthier. These are tools for not only nurses but all health practitioners and healers.


3 Tools for Happier and Healthier Nurses:

1. Self Love: "To reconnect with the Nurse Within, you have to love this person that you are" Only when we love ourselves and let our light shine from within can we truly begin to be that nurse that we were "called" to be. Such a simple thing, but why is this so hard for us?

2. Being Present In The Moment: "You need to exist in the here and now" " All you need in peace and quiet"
Taking the time to listen, be still and be quiet sometimes is the best way to find out exactly what your patient needs.

3. Every Situation Is A Gift: " Each moment is a chance to learn something new" A way for you to grow through something and thrive on the other side. (I think this is true in all aspects of our daily lives)

Read more great tools in Nursing from Within: A Fresh Alternative to Putting Out Fires and Self-Care Workarounds " by Elizabeth Scala (available in paperback and Kindle formats)

Elizabeth is a nurse, Reiki Master, healer, certified coach, facilitator, teacher, author and speaker. You can find more about this awesome lady at Elizabeth Scala [dot] com





Get your copy of "Nursing From Within" via Amazon today!

I Am Not The Nut Job Lady In Room 13, Lets Focus on Our HumanPatients #ptcenteredcare #ernurses

What is Wrong With Me?
Sweat beads on my forehead, my heart is racing, all ready for the next round of EMS patients that are soon to arrive  to my trauma bay. It has been a long night so far and we are tired, I have not eaten or peed in 8 hours, but a family has been involved in a crash on the interstate and their van was fully engulfed in flames. I hate crispy critters, the smell of burning flesh stays on your mind for days. The call bell is ringing again.....ding....ding....ding....ding, that "crazy nut job lady" in room 13 wants a snack.......again. She is waiting on psychiatric placement due to depression and suicidal ideations and I can so totally relate to her, since I have depression myself, I could be her, she is somebody's mom.
Adults, children, infants no matter, their faces don't really matter, we call them by their condition,complaint or problem, we give them funny code names and laugh at each one: The "gunshot wound guy" in T1, "the skull fracture kid" in T2, "Code Tooth" dental pain chick in room 4, the confused mamaw UTI in room 1, " the nut job in room 13"...........wait, what is wrong with me?

I could be anyone of these people, my family has been these people, these people are human beings!!
These people have names, they are someones father, mother, child and grandmother. I am a mother, a daughter and a wife to someone. I am a human being too, would I like to be called "the nut job lady" in room 13.....NO!

Patient and Family Centered Care

In the world of healthcare speak we talk about patient centered care, many methods, models and hours of research have been spent on this topic. Patient-centered care supports active involvement of patients and their families in the design of new care models and in decision-making about individual options for treatment. The IOM (Institute of Medicine) defines patient-centered care as: "Providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values, and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions." (from Wikipedia)
In the emergency department our focus has to be centered around the patient, they are our focus, but that patient is also a person, with a family, a life outside, a job, pets, children etc. Focusing on the person as a whole is imperative to complete care. Patient and family centered care is a better approach to healthcare that integrates all the players in the game. It encourages a collaboration of healthcare with patient and family as a whole.

Leaning The Hard Way
I have learned the hard way that listening to the patient and their family will not only save you as the nurse time, it will save you embarrassment in front of the family when they are right and you are ultimately wrong because you did not listen. I have been the family member sitting at the bedside myself, my husband has multiple health issues so we have been in and out of many doctors offices, emergency departments, clinics, intensive cares etc. Feeling scared and alone with a 4 month old infant in a baby carrier , we found ourselves 3 hours away from home at a huge teaching hospital, our world turned upside down when a post-op infection took over my husband's (of less than a year)
body. I learned very quickly that there was no patient-family centered care there, nobody seemed to listen to me until I grew a set of brass "kaunas" and let them know that I was a nurse, this was my husband and I demanded something be done NOW! I hated to act like a totally B@$%, but he was dying in front of my eyes.
Learning from others mistakes has made me a much better nurse today, I listen to the person and his/her family now, even if they just want to tell me about their children, pets or where the best place to draw blood might be.

Setting The Bar- Leading By Example 
It is so easy to fall into the norm of everyday work and act just like your co-workers, I am just as guilty I admit. Nurses in the ER develop a different style of coping mechanism I think, I use humor to help me get thru my shift and just get home. It in no way is a personal attack on anyone, our humor is not very respectful at times, I will admit. When faced with such horrific realities of death, destruction and violence we want a way to turn off the negative and be positive. It is hard to just keep smiling when your patient just called you names or cursed you because they have to wait to long or did not get the narcotics they desired.
Hard as it might be to focus on each patient as an individual person, worthy of your time and care, they all deserve care that is respectful. Communication is a key tool, involving the family and patient in what is going on helps to relieve stress and decrease anxiety.
You can set the bar high and lead by example, other nurses watch how you interact with your patients, families and other healthcare team members. Even well seasoned nurses like myself can learn valued lessons that lets us focus on our "human" patients, not the "nut job lady in room 13".

This post was written as part of the Nurse Blog Carnival. More posts on this topic can be found at Big Red Carpet Nursing. Find out how to participate, click the box below and join us!

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Wear Red For Awareness #goredforwomen #hearthealth

According to the American Heart Association, one in three women dies of heart disease or stroke each year. To help fight the high rate of heart-related deaths, every February the American Heart Association directs their attention to awareness days and campaigns that teach the general public about the importance of adopting behaviors that lead to improved heart health. February 6 is National Wear Red Day and the health professionals from NurseWise – a multilingual nurse triage and health education provider – are encouraging Americans of all ages and genders to wear red in support of the American Heart Association’s quest to decrease avoidable heart issues.

"At NurseWise we believe in and continuously promote health education and empowerment," said Kim Tuck, RN, President and Chief Executive Officer at NurseWise. "In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. We encourage everyone to wear red on Friday, February 6, to increase awareness about heart health and behaviors that can easily be adopted to reduce the chance of developing heart disease, stroke and other serious heart conditions."

To help you remember, the nurses at NurseWise have created a set of health tips in honor of National Wear Red Day using the acronym “HEART.”

H – Have heart awareness. Know your status! Make, schedule and KEEP routine appointments with your medical provider to stay abreast of your specific heart-health status and to learn warning signs that might indicate the need for specialized medications, lifestyle changes or testing. Knowing your heart stats and family predispositions for diseases of the heart is the first step in achieving more informed and improved heart health.

E – Exercise regularly. Your heart is a muscle, and just like the rest of the muscles in your body, it needs regular exercise to operate at its best. Start small by adding a short, slow-paced 10- or 15-minute walk to your day at least twice a week. Ask your medial professional for exercise recommendations based on your health status.

A – Always side with safe over sorry. You know your body better than anyone. If you start noticing an irregular-heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, frequent headaches, impaired vision, tingling in your left arm or short memory lapses, see a medical professional immediately. Never hesitate to see a doctor if you notice a change in the way you feel or notice an abnormality in your breathing or heart rate. Seeing a medical provider could save your life and uncover budding health conditions before they become serious health conditions.

R – Rest is essential. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep on a regular basis is essential to your health. Despite your busy schedule and long list of things to do, if you aren’t getting proper rest, you will stifle your body’s ability to repair itself during the sleep cycle. Find a sleep routine that works to help you get to sleep at a set time every day so your body can perform its natural healing processes.

T – Take time to decompress. Stress is a leading factor that contributes to conditions like high-blood pressure and stroke. Explore exercise and breathing techniques to help you find calm even in the midst of a busy workplace and personal schedule. If stress ever becomes overwhelming or your feel like you’re going to do something to hurt yourself or someone else, please call 9-1-1 right away to speak with someone who can get you the help you need. There’s no need to ashamed of stress. Every animal and human experiences it in some form, because stress is a natural function of the body. How you treat stress is what makes the difference in your quality of mental and physical health. There are techniques, medications and homeopathic remedies that can help you find the balance you need to keep your heart and body functioning at their best.

For more information about National Wear Red Day, please visit: https://www.goredforwomen.org/home/get-involved/national-wear-red-day/

About NurseWise

NurseWise is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation that is in the business of providing multilingual telehealth (nurse triage and health education) services. For more information, please visit our website at www.nursewise.com or contact us at info@nursewise.com.

A Prestigious List :Top Blogs 2014 #nurses #nursebloggers #healthcare

I am a bit late with this Prestigious list of Top Blogs, but these colleagues of mine are awesome all year round, not just in 2014, they have been stellar for many years!

Awesome Sauce!! This is a list of some of the best of the best nurse bloggers from all walks of life! I am so blessed to be included on this list in such fabulous company. Congratulations to all the incredible writers, authors and bloggers on this list, be sure to visit each one. There is a wealth of information and talent here, WTG friends!!

This list of top nursing blogs was compiled based on Facebook likes, frequency of postings, and number of followers. Many of the following blogs are top hits when conducting online searches and can also be followed on Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+. This list has been divided into sections for the reader’s convenience: general nursing, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, nursing student, nursing career, and women’s health.

GENERAL NURSING

1. Confident Voices – Beth Boynton is a national speaker, professional coach, facilitator, and medical improv trainer. She writes this blog founded on respectful communication for nurses, physicians, patient advocates, and support staff to encourage safe, respectful work cultures.
   Highlight: National Council of State Boards of Nursing Website Has Some Great Teaching Tools re: Social Media
2. Disruptive Women in Healthcare – This blog targets challenging and inspirational concepts in the current healthcare field. There are over 100 individuals that actively contribute to this blog including elected officials, healthcare workers, patient advocates, researchers, and economists.
   Highlight: The Hospital Discharge Race: Is Sooner Always Better?
3. Diversity Nursing – Diversity Nursing offers a variety of articles on all topics pertinent to nursing including health and wellness and career tips. This blog also includes a job board and a forum for open discussion amongst nurses and student nurses.
   Highlight: Nurses Among Most Influential People in Healthcare
4. ER Nurses Care – Written by emergency room nurse Leslie Block, this blog uses her passion for nursing to demonstrate caring and compassion through her posts focusing on healthy living, injury prevention, and various current trending topics in healthcare.
   Highlight: Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack: Do You Know The Difference?
5. Living Sublime Wellness – Elizabeth Scala MSN/MBA, RN is a motivational speaker who focuses her writing on encouraging nurses to make the necessary changes in healthcare by facilitating out-of-the box critical thinking.
   Highlight: Ode to the Bus Driver
6. Not Nurse Ratched – A nurse and freelance writer, Megen Duffy blogs about all things nursing while using her humor to lighten the mood as necessary. Duffy’s blog is highly followed online and on Facebook likely due to her down to earth writing style.
   Highlight: Tips for CNAs and New Nurses and Students (Oh My)
7. Nurse Barb’s Daily Dose – Barb Dehn, RN, MS, NP is committed to deciphering convoluted health information in order to assist individuals in achieving optimal health and wellness. Nurse Barb’s Daily Dose contains articles pertaining to women’s health, parenting, caregiving, healthy living, and medical conditions.
   Highlight: Menopause: Frequently Asked Questions
8. Nursetopia – Nursetopia features timely articles on all pertinent topics in healthcare. This blog inspires nurses by highlighting and displaying the positive influence nurses have on the healthcare culture.
   Highlight: Give Grace to Grow
9. rtConnections – Renee Thompson is a motivational speaker and the author of  Do No Harm” Applies to nurses too! Strategies to protect and bully-proof yourself at work.Thompson gears her presentations toward clinical competence and bullying within the workplace and works to enhance effective communication within a healthy organization.
   Highlight: What Does It Take for Nurses to Believe They are Heroes?
10. The Nursing Show -The Nursing Show is not your typical blog. It is filled with hundreds of short podcasts and easy to read articles pertaining various nursing topics geared toward nurses of all skill levels. All nurses are sure to find topics of interest in this diverse, educational blog.
    Highlight: Nurses Lead the Way for Organ Donation, End of Life Support

REGISTERED NURSES

11. According to Nurse Kateri – Kateri, RN, BSN, started this blog while on a personal journey to discover herself and now uses it to detail her personal experiences as they pertain to health and happiness. This blog features narratives relating to her career in pediatrics and pediatric intensive care.
    Highlight: Nurse
12. JParadisi RN’s Blog – Julianna Paradisi, RN is an accomplished artist and an oncology nurse who incorporates art into patient care. This blog focuses on the same while featuring some of her personal pieces of art as they relate to her writing.
    Highlight: Where Science, Humanity, and Art Converge
13. Nurse Eye Roll – Nurse Eye Roll was established by a newly seasoned nurse wishing to provide encouragement, inspiration, support, and laughter to student nurses. Nursing school is tough and Nurse Eye Roll is there to offer tips and suggestions about navigating the path toward graduation and successful board examination.
    Highlight: Orienting a Struggling New Grad
14. The Nerdy Nurse – Brittany Wilson, RN, BSN is a nursing informatics nurse who prides herself by incorporating technology into healthcare in order to improve and streamline patient care. This blog is found on various lists of top nursing blogs and is highly followed on social media. For more information, see what is nursing informatics?
    Highlight: 3 Resolutions Every Nurse Should Make

NURSE PRACTITIONER

15. Barefoot Nurse – Barefoot Nurse reviews real life experiences as they occur through the eyes of an advance practice nurse. Kelly Arashin, the author behind this blog, is unique in her profession because she is a dually board certified nurse practitioner in acute and critical care and a clinical nurse specialist.
    Highlight: Not a Physician, Not a Nurse…What?
16. My Strong Medicine – Sean Dent is an acute care nurse practitioner by day and weightlifter and coach by night. This blog was originally designed to share his experiences as a nurse but now it contains more commentaries on his personal life, his love for CrossFit and weightlifting.
    Highlight: Advice to My Pre-Nursing Self
17. NP Business Blog – Nurse practitioners whom are in private, independent practice are breaking the mold of traditional NP employment status and are often found without the available resources to answer common questions. Barbara C. Phillips developed this blog as a means for NPs to offer support to others in all avenues of business NPs may be involved in.
    Highlight: 7 Reasons Not to Start a Healthcare Practice
18. NP Odyssey – In existence since 2009, this blog contains a wealth of valuable information and insight including what it takes to become a nurse practitioner and the challenges NPs frequently encounter. This blog also incorporates articles pertaining to recent headlines in healthcare and how they pertain to NP practice.
    Highlight: New Grad RN and NP Jobs: Spread Your Wings
19. The NP Mom -Brett Badgley Snodgross is a family nurse practitioner with a passion for pain management and palliative care. She writes informative, easy to read articles related to common concerns she sees in her practice ranging from dieting to hypertension to allergies and beyond.
    Highlight: Weight Loss 101 – The Making of a Healthy Life – WATER!

NURSING STUDENT

20. A Journey Through Nursing School and Beyond – This blog takes the reader through the entire process of climbing the ladder through nursing education. The author began this blog as a certified nurse assistant, became a LPN, then an RN, and is currently seeking a master’s degree in nursing education. Most entries are brief and include an update on coursework although others offer valuable tips and tricks of the nursing trade.
    Highlight: Test Taking Tips for Nursing School
21. Adrienne, Student Nurse – Adrienne, RN is passionate about the way nurses and nursing students use social media in their professional lives. Adrienne, Student Nurse is written with the goal of telling the story of being a student nurse in an effort to motivate others to accept the challenge of becoming a nurse.
    Highlight: Charting Lingo
22. Becoming a RN – Follow Amy on her journey through nursing school through her blog where she recounts her trials, tribulations, and triumphs. This blog includes insight on navigating through the various challenges presented by nursing school and inspires nursing students to prevail.
    Highlight: My Most Effective Study Tool

NURSING CAREER

23. Digital Doorway – Keith Carlson, RN utilizes his blog, Digital Doorway, to coach nurses so they may feel fulfilled in their nursing careers. One of the most well known bloggers in healthcare, Carlson blogs about career opportunities, social media in healthcare, and burnout prevention.
    Highlight: Is The Nurse’s Glass Half Full?
24. Innovative Nurse – Kevin Ross, RN is the ‘Innovative Nurse’ behind this blog. Ross writes about numerous areas of career nursing such as time management, salary, mobile apps, networking, and workplace happiness in the healthcare arena.
    Highlight: Why You Need to Take the Phrase “Just A Nurse” Out of Your Vocabulary
25. International Nurse Support – International Nurse Support provides nurses with the necessary strategies to be confident in their positions while empowering them to climb the profession’s ladder as they progress in their career. This blog is owned by Joyce Fiodembo, however guest bloggers are featured frequently.
    Highlight: Handling the “Write-Up” You Do Not Deserve
26. Off the Charts – Off the Charts is the online publication of the well renowned American Journal of Nursing. While this blog lacks the personal touch many other blogs convey, Off the Charts presents up to date research data provided in an easy to read format. Various bloggers are often featured on this blog including many other bloggers in this list.
    Highlight: Ebola: A Nurse Epidemiologist Puts the Outbreak in Perspective
27. The Nursing Site Blog – Kathy Quan, RN, BNS, PHN, has been a nurse for greater than 30 years and utilizes this blog as a means to share her extensive knowledge with fellow nurses. Quan is the author of five books including The Everything New Nurse Book which helps new nurses transition from nursing school to bedside nursing.
    Highlight: Use Common Sense with Social Media
28. Your Career Nursing – Tina Lanciault, RN helps her readers find their niche in nursing by writing about alternative nursing careers. Your Nursing Career contains articles related to online learning, networking, lifestyles, product reviews, and entrepreneurship.
    Highlight: Nursing Certification

WOMEN’S HEALTH

29. At Your Cervix – At Your Cervix is written by a newly graduated nurse midwife and nicely portrays the trials and tribulations a new nurse midwife may encounter in practice. The blog contains educational articles that pertain to women’s health as well as commentaries based on the situations she came across over the course of the bloggers first year in practice.
    Highlight: What I Wished I Learned About in School
30. Mimi Secor – Mimi Secor is an accomplished family nurse practitioner with over 30 years experience in women’s health. Outside of her private practice, Mimi Secor is a public speaker and nurse consultant who prides herself in promoting quality care in women’s health.
    Highlight: STIs in the Aging Population: What? I thought only my teenager could get that!

About the author:

Jamie Bond has been a registered nurse since 2002 and returned to the college scene in 2012 to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has a passion for all things nursing, especially the care of the at–risk population. Jamie has first hand experience navigating the complicated, multifaceted field of nursing. A married mother of two school-aged sons, Jamie enjoys spending her spare time cheering on her kids at their various activities.

Credit to the http://www.bestmasterofscienceinnursing.com/30-nursing-blogs-2014/

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