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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…

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…

Much is made about what health care might cost in retirement. Indeed, studies suggest that a 65-year-old couple retiring today would need on average anywhere from $220,000 to $360,000 of their nest egg earmarked just for health-care costs in retirement. But the truth of the matter, as Medicare’s annual enrollment period gets under way, is that those costs might be even higher given a number of factors that could come into play in your household. What are they and what might you do to either avoid or trim…

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…

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a tough treatment course to navigate. If anyone knows that, it is Anne S. Tsao, MD. of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Tsao is no doubt one of the world's experts on MPM, having been "called" by the disease – one that is very rare and that generally occurs in older men (most often because of asbestos exposure) with comorbidities. Tsao told the West Wind Podcast that she was intrigued by MPM early in her career because "it was so different than . I just started doing some…

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…

Madelung's Disease (multiple symmetrical lipomatosis) is a rare lipid metabolic disorder characterised by often large, diffuse, unencapsulated adipose tissue (lipomas) typically in the maxillofacial region, neck, shoulders, limbs and trunk. The disease is most common in middle-aged men and although a difinitive cause has not been established, alcohol abuse appears to be a significant factor​1​ occuring in more than 90% of cases​2​. The disease is also known as Launois-Bensaude syndrome, multiple symmetrical lipomatosis, or…

Death is the inevitable conclusion of life, and we all experience death in a variety ways, but most of us try not to think about how and when we will die. End-of-life experiences are diverse and a deeply personal experience heavily influenced by the individuals culture, spirituality, and personal philosophy. This means that end-of-life care can be difficult to plan for the practicing nurse as each patient and family will have differing approaches to death. There are however many changes that develop leading up to death.…

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…