The Future of Nursing---- No Where But Up! #nurseup #nurses #careers

Why We’ll Always Need More Nurses

There is a reason that nursing is not only the biggest industry, but also the fastest growing. The need for nurses doesn't show any signs of stopping; and that’s because it probably never will. (6, 7)

People are living longer. Greater life expectancies and advances in modern medicine mean that people will need care longer. By 2020, it is estimated that more than 20% of the population will be 65 and older.

Globalization. With the linking of healthcare for individuals around the world and the option to travel to different countries to work, the demand will eventually outweigh the supply of nurses.

Specialist care. More and more nurses are migrating from the hospitals to other facets of healthcare, like complementary care, specialist care, physical therapy, long-term care and hospice care.

Outpatient care. Hospitals are being pressured more and more each day to release patients earlier. As such, more nurses are needed for outpatient care centers to give recovering patients the time and attention they need to continue to heal.

Home care services. Hospital jobs are expected to grow 17% by 2018. But home healthcare jobs are expected to grow by 33%.

                                          Source: TheNursingBible.com

The Fire Challenge, And Other Poor Choices #firechallenge #passoutchallenge

I know as you read the title you are asking yourself " how can anyone be so crazy to set themselves on fire"?

This is not fun or funny! This is deadly!

Not only are these kids setting themselves on fire, they are using rubbing alcohol as an accelerant and video taping each other to prove they did the #firechallenge.

I just want to scream right now!

Several challenges are circulating the internet & video airwaves right now that are very dangerous for your children to even think about. Search these hashtags :

#firechallenge

#passoutchallenge

#gtschallenge

#passoutgame

#chokingchallenge

#gotosleepchallenge

#chokinggame

#spacemonkeychallenge or game

 

Educate yourself, your kids and others about these deadly risk behaviors!

Save a life!

For more info and education visit http://Ed4Ed4All.com

 

 

 

 

Fireworks Safety :Enjoy Your Holiday Safely #safety #fireworks

Happy Fourth of July week! lets enjoy the holiday and be safe with some very simple tips for staying safe at home and while out watching fireworks. Proceed with caution and leave the fireworks for trained professionals. Sparklers are not to be given to children, notice the temperature at which a sparkler burns --1200 degrees F !! Sparklers are fun and pretty, but oh so dangerous.

How To Avoid Falling, Slipping and Tripping #safetymonth

Have you yourself fallen, tripped or slipped lately? It is a scary feeling that I myself experienced just this last April. I fell in the parking lot at the grocery store, simply because I was busy talking and did not pay attention to where I was walking. My left leg was black and blue for weeks, the pain was aggravating to say the least. I was very lucky and did not break anything, but my pride that day.

Many of us are living with or caring for our parents or grandparents as we journey into another realm of our busy lives. Grandparents are such precious treasures to us , not to mention the bonds they create with our children. Keeping them safe, just as they did for us, must be a priority.
Did you know that falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional death? Not many people do. Since June is National Safety Month, our friends at the Recall Center have made it their mission to educate and encourage safe behavior with hopes to help prevent slips, trips, and falls.

http://www.recallcenter.com/prevent-slips-trips-falls/

UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES

The first step toward preventing falls is understanding what causes them.

• Spills are a significant hazard, particularly in places like kitchens or bathrooms with tile floors that become slick when wet. Spills can also be difficult to see.
• Weather hazards such as snow and ice, or even just rainwater, create slippery surfaces and uncertain footing. Snow or ice falling from a rooftop can hit or startle someone, potentially causing a fall.
• Wet or oily floors, whether due to a spill, water from the tub, snow or rain tracked into the house, or something else, can be dangerously slippery.
• Loose or uneven flooring, including loose tile or the unsecured edge of a carpet or area rug, can catch a foot and cause someone to stumble.
• Dim lighting makes it difficult to see objects to avoid, particular for individuals with declining eyesight.
• Clutter places hazards in the way of people who may be at risk of falling. Shoes, pet toys, or virtually anything else can cause someone to trip, and even a small stumble is enough to cause a fall, especially in someone whose mobility and reflexes are limited by age.

KNOW WHERE TO LOOK

The next step is knowing places where hazards most often occur, and where seniors are most likely to encounter them.

• Living spaces, because they are heavily trafficked, carry a variety of risks. Bedrooms and hallways may be prone to clutter or loose carpets, while bathrooms and kitchens often have spills or other liquids on the floor. Pay special attention to stairs, as they can be difficult for seniors to navigate even under ideal conditions and can also lead to the most damaging falls.
• Outdoor walkways can be especially hazardous. They are prone to buildups of ice and snow and may become slick with rain. Heavily trafficked routes pose even more of a risk–not only will seniors encounter potential hazards more often, familiarity can lead to carelessness.
• Garages, often used as a catch-all storage space, are often cluttered and badly lit, a dangerous combination.

Gardens and yards, while an excellent source of exercise and fresh air, can be risky too. Grass and mud can conceal uneven ground, tree roots, garden implements left outside, or other potential causes of a fall. And while a fall on grass may not seem as bad as one on asphalt, it can still cause serious injury.

 Please be safe and keep your loved ones safe......

Acetaminophen VS. Ibuprofen : It's a Health Knockout!

Allergic Reactions What's All The Buzz About #health #allergies

Allergic reactions are sensitivities to substances called allergens that come into contact with the skin, nose, eyes, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract. They can be breathed into the lungs, swallowed, or injected( like a sting)

Allergic reactions are common. The immune response that causes an allergic reaction is similar to the response that causes hay fever. Most reactions happen soon after contact with an allergen. Severe reactions usually happen within minutes to a couple hours after the contact.

Hives on the back of an acute allergic reaction- courtesy of WikiMedia 

Many allergic reactions are mild, while others can be severe and life-threatening. They can be confined to a small area of the body, or they may affect the entire body. The most severe form is called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. Allergic reactions occur more often in people who have a family history of allergies.

Substances that don't bother most people (such as venom from bee stings and certain foods, medications, and pollens) can trigger allergic reactions in others.

Common Allergens

Although first-time exposure may only produce a mild reaction, repeated exposures may lead to more serious reactions. Once a person has had an exposure or an allergic reaction (is sensitized), even a very limited exposure to a very small amount of allergen can trigger a severe reaction. These people need to carry an Epipen at all times. Your doctor can prescribe one for you to use.

For example you develop a small red rash after taking an antibiotic, your body produces a reaction to that medication and sensitizes you. You are now much more likely to develop a severe or life threatening reaction the next time you take an antibiotic in the same drug family as the first one.
What are we allergic to?

It can be: foods, plants, latex, medications, dyes, insects,animals,bee stings, fibers, soaps,chemicals, you name it.

Cockroaches are a major source of allergen exposure in inner-city areas. Of the thousands of species, only a few are important sources of indoor allergens. The German and American cockroaches are the most commonly encountered (shown). Cockroach allergens are derived from saliva, feces, secretions, and dead bodies. The allergens are similar in size to house-dust mite allergens (roughly 10 μm), and remain airborne for short periods of time. An association between cockroach sensitization and asthma exacerbation has been described and may be a major source of morbidity for inner-city, low-socioeconomic patients. An image of an American cockroach is shown courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Sometimes you can develop an allergic reaction to something and never figure out the culprit unless you have testing done.

Identifying a culprit allergen can be very difficult, given the wide variety of compounds that humans are exposed to on a daily basis. A number of grid-based skin tests are available. In prick, or scratch, testing a purified allergen is intradermally injected to evaluate for a response. This method is commonly used for pet dander, dust, pollen, foods, and house-dust mites. In patch testing, allergens are kept in contact with the skin via hypoallergenic tape for an extended period of time to assess for a subsequent allergic inflammatory response. This method is commonly used for latex, medications, preservatives, and metals. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Allergic Reaction Treatment from eMedicine.com
Self-Care at Home
Avoid triggers! If you know you have an allergic reaction to peanuts, for example, do not eat them and go out of your way to avoid foods prepared with or around peanuts (see Food Allergy).
Self-care at home is not enough in severe reactions. A severe reaction is a medical emergency.
Do not attempt to treat or "wait out" severe reactions at home. Go immediately to a hospital emergency department.
If no one is available to drive you right away, call an ambulance for emergency medical transport.
Use your epinephrine auto-injector (Epi-Pen) if you have been prescribed one by your doctor due to previous allergic reactions.
Slight reactions with mild symptoms usually respond to nonprescription allergy medications.
Oral antihistamines
Loratadine (Claritin or Alavert), cetirizine (Zyrtec), and fexofenadine (Allegra) are nonsedating antihistamines that can be taken over the long term.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can also be taken but may make you too drowsy to drive or operate machinery safely. It can affect concentration and interfere with children's learning in school. These medications should be taken for only a few days.
For rashes or skin irritations, an anti-inflammatory steroid cream such as hydrocortisone can be used.
For small, localized skin reactions, use a cold, wet cloth or ice for relief. Apply a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel as an ice pack.

Cardiac Arrest Vs. Heart Attack , Do You Know The Difference #february #heartmonth #gored

Lets get smart for our hearts, this month is heart month, educate yourself on your heart, stroke awareness and what your numbers are. Heart disease is a killer of women everyday, any of us could be next. Put on those red dresses and strut your heart healthy stuff!