Scooping up capillary blood (dragging the collection apparatus across the skin to get the blood into the tube) will contaminate the sample, and is a common source of error in point-of-care testing. To circumvent this problem, use an anti-scoop collection device, such as Microvette (Sarstedt, Newton, NC), that can wick up the blood when you gently touch the tube to the droplet.
Sally Beattie, RN, MS, CNS, GNP
Hold the sodium polystyrene sulfate (Kayexelate)! According to the American Heart Association guidelines, you should treat hyperkalemia first by administering 10 units of regular insulin along with an amp of 50% dextrose. Insulin promotes the movement of potassium from the extracellular space back into the cells, and the dextrose prevents iatrogenic hypoglycemia. Serum potassium levels begin to decline within 30 – 60 minutes with this treatment and remain low for several hours.
Marie Lasater, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNRN Massage therapy can help cancer patients by decreasing pain and anxiety, relieving muscle tension, and improving circulation. It can also enhance range of motion, and bolster their immune function. But you should avoid applying deep pressure, particularly near lesions or postoperative sites. Use only gentle, light touch massage on patients with bleeding tendencies. And do not massage patients who have metastatic or thrombotic disease, or those who've undergone lymph node dissection. Gatlin, C. G., & Schulmeister, L. (2007). When medication is not enough: Nonpharmacologic management of pain. Clin J Onc Nurs, 11(5), 699. Cassileth, B. R., Deng, G. E., et al. (2007). Complementary therapies and integrative oncology in lung cancer: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice (2nd ed.), Chest, 132(3), 340S. Erythromycin is a motilin agonist, which means it can effectively speed up gastric emptying. It's now considered a first-line choice for clearing gastric contents in a patient under going esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for an upper GI bleed. The recommended dose is 250 mg, given as an IV bolus about 20 minutes before the procedure. Gastric lavage may be used if this method fails. DiMaio, C. J., & Stevens, P. D. (2007). Nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Gastro Endoscopy Clin North Am, 17(2), 253.
Cancer patients can benefit from massage therap
Gastric lavage is out, erythromycin is in
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a pacifier to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Encourage parents to offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime throughout the first year of life. However, if the infant refuses the pacifier, teach parents not to force the issue. Likewise, if the pacifier slips out after the infant falls asleep, it should not be reinserted. Introducing a pacifier can be delayed until breastfeeding is well-established, usually around one month. Pacifiers should be cleaned often and replaced regularly. Jennifer L. W. Fink, RN, BSN Without treatment, only 10% of those who are infected will develop active tuberculosis (TB). That's because a healthy immune system keeps TB in check. These latent, or non-contagious, cases, however, can become active in patients whose immune system may be compromised by another disease or condition. Think HIV, cancer, diabetes, or prolonged corticosteroid therapy, or substance abuse, for example. Suggest having these patients tested for TB if they show signs such as chills, fever, cough, night sweats, and pleurisy, or have a history of exposure. Rebecca Ruppert, RN, MS Administering injections or taking blood can be agonizingly difficult if a small child is reluctant to cooperate. A useful way to improve the success rate of pediatric venipuncture is the "magic feather" technique, which uses visual imagery to distract a patient from the painful procedure. Hand the child an imaginary feather and describe it in detail. Show the child that by blowing gently on the invisible feather, it can be suspended in the air above the child's head. Ask the child to continue blowing to keep the imaginary feather in the air, so its magic power doesn't disappear. When the child is deeply engrossed in playing with the magic feather, venipuncture can be carried out, ideally without the patient even noticing. Bradshaw, S. E. "Magic feather can aid pediatric venipuncture." http://www.postgradmed.com/pearls.htm (1 Feb. 2007). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is encouraging healthcare providers to support women who elect to breastfeed their infants. Breastfeeding offers a number of benefits for the mother and infant and is the preferred method of feeding, according to ACOG. Moreover, the group emphasizes that nearly all women are capable of breastfeeding their children. There are only a few contraindications to breastfeeding: use of illegal drugs or high alcohol intake, HIV or certain other infections, and an infant with galactosemia. ACOG continues to recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of life. The group emphasized that education and support for breastfeeding can improve breastfeeding rates for all women and would be a positive economic investment for both health plans and employers because there are lower rates of illness among infants who are breastfed. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "ACOG calls on obgyns, health care professionals, hospitals and employers for increased support for breastfeeding." 2007. http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr02-01-07-1.cfm (1 Feb. 2007). Noroviruses, the culprits responsible for the stomach flu, cause muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and low-grade fever and chills about 24 – 48 hours after exposure. They're highly contagious. For most, the flu is self-limiting. Children often have more vomiting than adults, but it's the elderly who are at risk for a severe case and possibly death. While handwashing is critical to prevention, sick employees should be told to stay home for 72 hours after diarrhea and vomiting stop. Hospitals should also limit visitors. Rebecca Ruppert, RN, MS
Latent TB turns deadly if conditions are right
Salem, OR
Encourage your patients to breastfeed
Don't come back to work too soon after the flu
Salem, OR
No comments:
Post a Comment