Episode 10: Triage - ESI Overview November 19, 2008
Posted by admin in : News, Podcast , add a commentEpisode 10: Triage - ESI Overview
In today’s episode, I discuss the ESI Triage system, giveing a general overview of how it works.
I also discuss three articles that all happen to appear in the current issue of Emergency Medicine News:
OPALS Study Shows no Benefit to ALS in Trauma Patients
Adverse Reactions to Fluoroquinolones
Here’s the Podcast:
“Simple” treatments found effective for IBS November 16, 2008
Posted by admin in : News, Tips , add a commentIn an article published the 14th of this month, researchers found tht “simple” treatments like peppermint oil, soulble fiber, and certin over - the - counter antispasmotics were effectvie in treating irritable bowel symptoms. What is interesting about this, is that peppermint oil and diet mediated therapy was shown to be effective as opposed to using pharmacology! Alopathic medicine coming of age?
Here’s a link to the article from Medpagetoday
Peppermint Oil and Other Simple Remedies Found Effective for IBS
You’re as old as your arteries November 12, 2008
Posted by admin in : News, Tips , add a commentIn two studies, the results of which were announced Tuseday at an American Heart Association conference, researchers found that obese children as young as ten (10) had “the arteries of a 45 year old” when looked at with ultrasound. This is a wakeup call to everyone in the US, not just parents. It behooves us as a nation to work to stem this tide of rising obesity in adolescents. And it is, once again, incumbent upon nursing as a whole to lead the charge in educating not only parents of these children, but also people fron young adulthood on up about the inherent dangers of obesity and lack of activity.
Here’s the article, published in today’s Orlando Sentinel:
Fat kids found to have arteries of 45-year-olds
New Hope for Sickle Cell Patients November 8, 2008
Posted by admin in : News , add a commentIn an article published in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette this morning, researchers say they have found a new method to treat and cure sickle cell disease. In a study done at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, six of seven patients were cured with the new method. The study appears n the November issue of Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.
Marrow transplants promising as cure for sickle cell
Episode 9 - Oxygen Therapy November 5, 2008
Posted by admin in : News, Podcast, Tricks , add a commentEpisode 9 - Oxygen Therapy
Im today’s podcast, I discuss oxygen therapy and it’s pros and cons. I also discuss oxygen toxicity and CO2 narcosis.
In the Primary Survey, I discussed three articles that may be of interest to you:
Kids mimic parents’ diets from an early age
Scans Reveal Brain Abnormalities in Fibromyalgia Patients
And an interesting article about alieviating overcrowding:
Twin Cities Hospitals Try to Free Up ERs By Paying for Preventative Care
Here’s the definition of absolute atmosphere:
Atmosphere Absolute
The ambient pressure including the air column over the water. The air column = 1 atm. at sea level. In sea water, another atmosphere
is added each 33 FSW (Feet of Sea Water) . There is an increase in pressure per foot of sea water equivalent to 1/33 or .03030303 .
So ATA may be calculated by multiplying the depth (FSW) by .0303030 and then adding 1 for the air above the water. i.e. the ATA at
46 FSW = (46 * .0303030) + 1 = 2.3939 ATA. to convert ATA to FSW. ATA - 1 * 33 = FSW.
I included the algabraic equatin for your own purposes. While this formula isn’t necessary for our purposes, I know there are those who would like to know what it is. Enjoy!
And here’s the podcast. I hope you enjoy it!
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month November 3, 2008
Posted by admin in : News , add a commentNovember is National Diabetes Awareness Month. The CDC has some interesting news on their site about diabetes in the US.
For instance:
About 24 million Americans have diabetes
More than 4,000 adults are diagnosed with diabetes
Approximately 200 people die from diabetes
A link to the page is below. Take a look!
And read my most previous post for more information on diabetes and a link to the ADA.
Diabetes Rate Doubled Over Decade October 30, 2008
Posted by admin in : News, Tips , 1 comment so farIn a study published yesterday by the CDC in Atlanta, researchers found the rate of diabetes diagnoses doubled over the last decade to roughly 9 of every 1000 people. Roughly 90% of these cases are type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity. The report state nearly 1.6 million new cases were reported last year alone. This study points up an interesting and costly topic for healthcare providers. We as ED nurses see people daily who are diabetics, and if they’re anything like those who I see, many of them have a minimal understanding of their disease process. I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. The single biggest difference between nurses and any other healthcare provider is that we educate our patients. This is one area we can make a huge difference in even a small amount of time. Explaining some basics of diabetes management (i.e. diet control, weight management, etc.) can go a long way in helping people better control their disease.
Read the article on the study:
US Diabetes Rate Doubels Over 10 Years
Learn more about diabetes from the ADA:
A “New” Twist on Easing Overcrowding October 27, 2008
Posted by admin in : News , add a commentIn an attempt to releive ED overcrowding, some hospitals have begun boarding admitted patients in hallways on the floors.
Hospitals nationwide are now using the floor hallways to board patients who are admitted instead of keeping them in the ED. The thought is that these patients will get more of the care they are deserved of with floor nursing as opposed to ED nursing, plus it frees up the ED to treat more of the patients who are in the waiting room.
Personally, I think this is a good idea. Let me know what you think of this idea.
Here’s the article I’m speaking about:
Hospitals ease ER crowding with ward beds in halls
A New Twist on an Old Idea October 25, 2008
Posted by admin in : News, Tips , 2commentsThose who have been in emergency medicine/nursing for a while will remember the days of the emergency information in a pill bottle in the refrigerator, with a magnet on the door telling first responders to look for it, or the informataion card given to people to put in their wallets. Well, in this day and age of electronics, there’s a new way of doing the same thing.
A company called Identification Devices LLC, makes a flash drive that goes on your keyring and contains all the important information you want to store…….medical history, medicines, allergiew, etc. It can be plugged into any computer and the information retrieved for use by emergency personnel. This may be better than using the ICE contact on your cell phone since it needs no power of it’s own to operate, and you don’t need to call someone else to get more information.
Here’s an articel about the device and a link to the company’s website. Take a look and start looking for these items on your patients!
Hepatic and Splenic Trauma October 22, 2008
Posted by admin in : News, Podcast, Uncategorized , add a commentEpisode: Hepatic and Splenic Trauma
In todays episode, I cover hepatic and splenic trauma and how they are managed.
In the Primary Survery, I cover 4 topics. Links to these articles are listed below.
Web surfing stimulates older brains
Here’s the podcast:
Note, I had problems with the base levels. Sorry for the inconvenience.
