It is sad to know that there is a high percentage of the population who has cardiac problems. Many people have cardiac arrest everyday and many cardiac arrests happen in private homes. With an automated external defibrillator in your home, you wouldn’t lose precious minutes waiting for rescue workers to arrive with an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). When the heart stops beating effectively and can’t adequately pump blood to the brain and vital organs, a person will die within a few minutes or if he survives, he may sustain permanent damage of the brain and other organs.
Archive for the ‘nursing information’ Category
AED
Friday, February 1st, 2013Exercise as a diagnostic tool
Thursday, June 4th, 2009 Did you know about this? Exercise not only boosts fitness and wards off disease, it should also help you feel better. If it doesn’t , pay attention to your symptoms. The rigors of a work out function as a whole-body stress test that can reveal an array of serious medical conditions that might otherwise go undiagnosed and untreated.
For example, the headaches that plagued a 57-year-old man shortly after the start of vigorous physical activity actually signalled the presence of blocked coronary arteries. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, a professional journal, described this and an assortment of other case histories of exercise-induced red flags:
• Fatigue and poor athletic performance: a possible sign of anemia.
• A noticeable drop in speed and nimbleness: Parkinson’s disease.
• Abdominal cramping and diarrhea: inflammation of the colon.
• A severe headache or incoherence: a brain tumor.
• Repeated bouts of tendinitis: hypothyroidism.
Granted, many workout-related aches, pains, and other ailments stem from nothing more than an over ambitious attempt to cram a week’s worth of exercise into a single session at the gym. But any symptom that’s unusual, intense, or persistent merits prompt medical attention. Exercise may be intended to promote health, but don’t ignore its ability to uncover illness.
CNA’s role
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009As nurses we need to know the CNAs role and the scope of their responsibilities. They are a big part in our team. CNAs have instinct we, nurses, rely on them as our ears and hands but they can’t make Nursing diagnosis. They do not solve patient’s problems, not evaluate the patient, not provide health counselling, not do sterile invasive procedures, no medicine administration those are nurses’ responsibilities. They can do NGT tube feedings, can put oxygen on but can’t turn the oxygen on.
CVP Monitoring
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009Nurses should know what are our responsibilities with regards to CVP Monitoring. We should be knowledgeable enough about the procedure.
A catheter is inserted to the right atrium of the heart to determine fluid balance. The normal functioning of the heart, all the fluids that come to the heart is pump out from the heart. If it does not happen you’ll have Congestive Heart Failure. We try to figure out how the heart handles the volume of blood coming in.
The measuring point of the CVP is in the right atrium. What you should do is level up the right atrium with the manometer. Make sure that the manometer is the same level with the right atrium. Use a lever to balance it out.
NCLEX Q – CVP pt if the head of the bed is adjusted you have to adjust the manometer otherwise you will get a false reading.
Normal CVP reading 5-10 cm H20. More than 10cm is indicative of overload. Less than 5cm patient is dry or dehydrated.
Always check the lever of the manometer. Check the insertion site of the catheter for bleeding and other complication like pneumothorax or hemothorax. Signs and symptoms is shortness of breath.
Cardiac enzymes
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009It is a must for nurses to know about cardiac enzymes. There are a lot of MI cases. Having this knowledge will help the patient and prevent further complication of the case. With MI there are certain cardiac enzymes that will rise and it will indicate the diagnosis of the problem.
Increased CK-MB – indicates cardiac damage after 4-8 hours post infarcts.
Increased CK-MM – indicates muscular damage.
LDH – increase 3-6 days post MI
SGOT – increase 24-48 hours post MI
Troponin – is one enzymes that arises almost immediately. It is the most specific enzymes. If patient has chest pain 30minutes ago and went to the ER, we can see Troponin rises and it continue to rise. It gives us a good indication that probably a cardiac related incident.
The journey to well-being starts with simple steps
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009In my field of work, I usually get tired almost after every shift. Delivering babies is not easy. It takes all your energy especially when births have complications. I always remember, I don’t have to take fatigue lying down. There are many ways I can fight back: Eat a balanced diet. Get enough sleep as possible. Exercise regularly by walking or jogging each day. Have a positive attitude. And take multivitamins daily. It won’t just get me back on my feet. It made me feel like the world is at my feet.
KUB ultrasound result
Sunday, March 15th, 2009Today, my mom went with me to the hospital for my KUB ultrasound (kidney, ureters, urinary bladder). Though I do not have severe pain anymore in my left side, I just want to have a check with my kidneys. I want to know if I have 2 because my mom only one kidney is functioning. Her other kidney is very small according to the doctor it is inborn. I am glad every thing was normal. Thank you Lord. I was so relieved.
This is my result : Left Kidney measures 8.8 x 4.8 x 1.4 cm, Right kidney measures 8.7 x 4.1 x 1.6cm. there is no significant disparity in the sizes, shapes and locations of both kidneys. No evident mass, calculus nor any abnormality in the scans obtained. Both ureters were not visualized (not significantly dilated). There is a good filling of the urinary bladder, showing regular contours and smooth walls with no intraluminal echoes.
IMPRESSION : Normal study
Renal stones?
Monday, February 16th, 2009Last night I was about to iron my nursing type C uniform for my first day Training. I was very excited by then. But just before I plugged the iron, I suddenly had a very severe left flank pain. I sat for a while and observe the pain. The pain is getting more painful and I started to have scanty painful urination. I drank a lot of water plus buko juice (good for UTIs). I diagnosed myself with UTI (urinary tract infection) but I am alarmed because the pain is confined in my left flank and I was positive CVA (costovertebral angle) and it is very painful even I was not touching the area. I was thinking of having pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) or renal stones on the left kidney. Because of the pain I decided to have a check-up in the hospital.
The orientation day
Monday, February 16th, 2009I woke up early this morning for our general hospital orientation for the hospital where we will be having our training. I was so excited that even though I set the alarm, I woke up few times and checked of the time just in case my alarm did not went off.
I arrive in there just on time. While waiting for the speakers, I met two nurses and we become friends. It felt so good to see the facilities of the hospital. It is the hospital were we had our affiliation when we were still nursing students. It did have great progress for ten years. Of course for the span of time it is expected to improve. We will start our duty in 3 days. I am excited already though it will be hard and tiring. I will not mind it as long as I can serve people and learn a lot at the same time.
Constipation sensation
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 Have you ever experienced constipation? You probably have because constipation spares nobody- and when it happens, you need to deal with it immediately! If you’ve been experiencing pain and straining while moving hard and dry stools, or if you’ve been feeling gassy or bloated or if your bowel movement has been less that 3 times a week, then you know you’re suffering from constipation.
You should check your lifestyle to see if you are at risk of having constipation. Similarly, if you’re always stressed-out and you constantly repress your urge to move your bowel, you might end up constipated as well.
Most people think traditional cures like drinking more liquids or eating papaya and kangkong are the way to go, but they only take effect after several days especially if constipation has already set in. With 1-2 tablets of dulcolax, you can expect relief in 6-8 hours. It is a doctor-trusted contact laxative that promotes natural bowel movement, producing soft and well-formed stools. Set yourself free from the burden of constipation and get your movement back on track.