Education

They’re called sexual assault nurse examiners, trained to treat and comfort victims who are struggling through the most painful, traumatic time of their life. These specialized nurses see it all and hear it all. “Some things in our job we can’t un-hear, we can’t un-see,” said Michelle Resendez, a registered forensic nurse and coordinator for Franciscan Health in Crown Point. SANE nurses, as they’re called, also testify in court about their medical findings, if needed, either helping to prosecute or exonerate a suspect…

Asbestos-related cancers are claiming 2,500 lives a year despite expert predictions the death toll would peak several years ago. And a leading asbestos lawyer warns an increasing number of “blue collar” workers, such as teachers, nurses and office staff, are becoming victims. The disturbing trend is revealed ahead of the 20th anniversary of the banning of asbestos in Britain next weekend. The move also put a duty on the owners of non-domestic properties, such as schools and hospitals, to manage asbestos within…

The new Post-Acute Care Heart Failure Certification offered from the American Heart Association, provides education and resources to skilled nursing facilities to reduce the hospital readmissions for heart failure patients. More than 6 million Americans are living with heart failure. The Post-Acute Care Heart Failure Certification is now available to all skilled nursing facilities in the United States. These skilled nursing facilities may now be recognized for providing access to quality care for treatment of heart…

Essentially all patients living with type 1 diabetes experience "diabetes burnout" at some time or other. What is diabetes burnout, what factors contribute to the problem, and what can patients and nurses do about it? Those questions are addressed in a descriptive study in the December issue of the American Journal of Nursing. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. Diabetes burnout occurs when patients experience exhaustion and detachment, leading to a sense of powerlessness and apathy…

Effective COPD management plan includes four components: (1) assess and monitor disease; (2) reduce risk factors; (3) manage stable COPD; (4) manage exacerbations. The objectives of effective COPD management are to: Prevent disease progression Relieve symptoms Increase exercise tolerance Improving the health status Prevent and treat complications Preventing and treating exacerbations Reduce mortality These objectives should be achieved with minimal side effects from treatment, a…

The nursing role in COPD — and essentially in all chronic diseases — is becoming increasingly important and is characterised by continuity of care. Nurses are involved in the management of COPD at all stages, from prevention to provision of end-of-life care within a variety of settings, both in the community (including patients' own homes and family practice) and hospitals. Nurses often play a key role in new care models based on different types of telemedicine support.5,6 Nurse-led consultations and disease management…

Physiological death is simply defined as the complete cessation of all vital organs. This differs from the broader definition of death which is typically recognised when respiration and cardigan functions cease. At death, the pupils become fixed and dilated, and the skin on the face and extremities becomes cool to the touch. The time of death should be noted and documented, and the attending doctor or medical officer informed. Physiological death is not as clear-cut as the conventional definition of death as many…

A peptic ulcer is a legion in the mucosa lining of the stomach or small intestine, allowing gastric juices to come into contact with, and damage underlying tissues. Untreated or severe peptic ulcers may lead to perforation of the stomach and spilling of gastric juices into the abdominal cavity. Peptic Ulcers are prevalent in approximately 4% of the population1, with an estimated 10% of the population experiencing a peptic ulcer at some point in their life. In 2015 alone, over 87 million new cases were reported, resulting in…

Malaria is a relatively common condition caused by parasitic infection by the Plasmodium protozoans, generally acquired from the bite of a mosquito. The disease is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical regions, including much of Latin America and Asia, however, the vast majority of reported cases - approximately 90% - occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. The disease remains very prevalent in these regions with 216 million cases of malaria reported globally in 20161, resulting in an estimated 731,000…

The Trendelenburg Position is a position in which the patient is laid supine, with the head declined to an angle between 30-45 degrees. The Trendelenburg position is most often used in surgical procedures of the lower abdomen, pelvis and genitourinary system as it allows gravity to pull the abdominal contents away from the pelvis. The position is also very effective in reducing and preventing the exacerbation of both abdominal and inguinal hernias. This is because it avoids putting downward pressure on the…