What would you do if you were working in a hospital setting, and a child was brought in by ambulance from a motor vehicle accident and was in critical condition.  This child requires blood or blood products and the parents said “No”  That is against our religion??

How would you handle this situation?  You are the nurse  caring for this young child, and know without medical intervention this child will die.  You know that a simple thing as “Blood or Blood products” could save this child’s life.   I say “simple”  as  medical professionals, it seems so simple, yet it is so complex.  Someone’s religious beliefs are their beliefs, not yours.

So then it becomes COMPLICATED!!   How do you handle this??

Do you not think these parents are grieving as well?  They know the consequences of this as well.  They are of the belief  this is their “God’s Will”.

What do we as nurses do?  It is imperative that we not impose our religious beliefs upon them, that we not discriminate against their beliefs.  As nurses, we must continue to educate ourselves with diversity of other cultures and religious beliefs.

Nurse76502

Have you ever wondered why we become nurses?  Is it the money?  The great hours?  The endless time spent lounging with our feet up?  Working with a full bladder and empty stomach??  Patients on the call lights non stop??? Families yelling and crying because they can’t deal with all the issues at hand?  Doctors, doctors, and doctors….what to say about doctors…That is a whole new blog..(stay tuned)

Well, I can tell you what  most nurses would say “it isn’t the money, it isn’t the hours for sure!!

We are nurses because we are born to be NURSES. 

Most nurses would say “we love what we do”  Most will also tell you, they hate the politics we have to deal with.  But we all have something in common….we love being a nurse!!  We love our jobs and keep doing what we do with or without expression of gratitude.

So, next time you see a Nurse—Tell her(him)—Thank you.

It might be that one little compliment, that makes their day.  That one smile, that lets them know, It’s going to be OK.  Some days are harder than others.  It might be YOU, that makes a difference in a nurse’s life.  While they try and make a DIFFERENCE every day in the life of a patient or family member.

So Hug a NURSE–she(he) might save your life someday!!

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Have you ever taken one of those stress index tests?  Well I did and here is what I found out.

My one year stress index is 330 (>300) and the six month level is 434 (>500).  When I look at my stress index, I think  “Oh my gosh”

I understand stress because, I live it or have lived it. It’s easy to deal with stress of patients and families when you can relate to them.  People become angry, say things they don’t mean, others yell, scream and cry or some say nothing. Others need a shoulder to cry on or a hand to hold or just someone to listen, someone to care. Some worry if they are doing the right thing, others worry are they doing enough.  I can actually say, I have probably been where most of my patients and families are at one time or another. I use my own life experiences to care for my patients and families. I treat them with compassion, empathy and never judge them.  I always remember every patient is someone’s ‘one’. I have been the patient in the bed, recovering from a major surgery, waiting for a pathology report that says “You have cancer”.  I’ve been the daughter at the side of the bed waiting for my dad to take his last breath. I watched my sister in law who had Lou Gehrig’s disease at age 52, cry tears the day before she died, knowing she was leaving a 10 year old son behind. I stood at the crib and watched my brother’s newborn being removed from the ventilator. Every day I watch my husband of 37 years fail before my eyes. And recently spent hours with a coworker whose 18 month old baby was taken to surgery to remove an 8 pound tumor on her liver that doctor’s failed to diagnose. Sitting with her when the words came, “Yes it is cancer”.

How do I do it?  I was born a Nurse!  Nursing is my life.  Whether it is the life of a patient, family member or a staff member, I try to make a difference every day. I smile, pray, eat healthy and exercise when possible. I rest when I am tired. Say “no” when I can’t and go home with satisfaction in a job that I love.

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As a hospice nurse, I encountered many different faiths, cultures and beliefs.  Patients are most vulnerable during times of illness and stress. Faith means different things to different people. Some patients request prayer, some just need  a hug or a gentle touch.

Catholics request to see their Priests for last rites. Native American Indians, sometimes use a medicine man, and spirits to guide them to a happy hunting ground. Native American Indians usually have many extended family members in attendance when a loved one is ill. We should make sure every effort to have an environment that can accommodate large numbers and respect their personal space. They believe the spirit soars after death. Faith to some is the belief in a Higher Power. Faith to me, is the belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God. Jehovah is the God of Jehovah Witnesses, they have a religious belief that restricts the use of blood and blood products. As difficult, as this would be, it should be no different than caring for someone refusing tube feedings to extend life, refusing chemotherapy for cancer treatment or a ventilator for life support.  Faith shouldn’t dictate how nurses care for patients. Patients should always treated with respect and dignity regardless of their religious beliefs. As a nurse it is our responsibility to make sure religious and cultural beliefs respected. We must continue to educate ourselves to become familiar all religious and culture beliefs.

Nurse76502

Assignment week 2

Chitty, Black, K. (2007). Professional Nursing: Concepts & Challenges http://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/books

http://library.thinkquest.org/16665/afterlifeframe.htm

I have a question for you all…….

How do you live your life?  Do you live it with honesty and integrity?  Do you do the right thing even when no one else looking??, or just when they are looking????

Don’t  the decisions we make every day determine who we are. Determine how we are going to live or life??   Do you run the yellow light or STOP??   Is that like telling the truth every time or just when it is convenient???

Are we held to the same standard we hold others too?

In life we make decisions every day that affect someone.  They either affect you or some other person.  As nurses, we make critical decisions every day…which could mean life or death.
As nurses we are held to the Higher Standard, we must live our life with honesty and integrity.  If we don’t have integrity….then what do we have……..NOTHING!!!!

So remember, do the right thing, every time….you never know who is looking.

Nurse76502

Ethics, Values and Beliefs

Ethics is a term used to reflect what actions an individual should take. It is derived from the Greek term ethos, which means habits or customs. Ethics are process-oriented and involve critical analysis of actions. Kay Chitty, Beth Black. Professional Nursing: Concepts & Challenges, 5th Edition. 2007

. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) also has published a code of ethics for the profession. This document discusses the rights and responsibilities of nurses related to people, practice, society, co-workers, and the profession. The ICN first adopted a code of ethics in 1953. Its last revision, adopted in 2000, represents agreement by more than 80 national nursing associations that participate in the international association. Inherent in the International Council of Nurses Code for Nurses is nursing’s respect for the life, dignity, and rights of all people in a manner that is unmindful of nationality, race, creed, color, age, sex, political affiliation, or social status. Chitty, Black, K. (2007). Professional Nursing: Concepts & Challenges (5th ed).

Nurses are constantly having to make ethical decisions on a daily basis.  My ethics and moral values dictate who I am and how I practice nursing.  I have a strong Christian background, I believe that each person has the right to be treated with respect and dignity.  They have the right to make informed decisions about their healthcare, the right to be told the truth.  They have the right to be treated with compassion and caring and support for the decisions they or their family make without judgment.

Treating an elderly patient who is refusing to eat and makes the decision to not have a feeding tube placed is their right.  After explaining the benefits, implications, the risk factors and reasons why physicians deem it necessary, I support their decision. I believe patients have the right to die.  I believe they have the right to determine the course of their healthcare.

Or taking care of a dying person whose family cannot let go.  Knowing if we continue with fluids, and no urine output what the expected results will be, I believe they have the right to know what is going on.  After explaining how the body functions and natural process of dying they have a better understanding of what to expect.  By providing information to the family regarding Do not resuscitate (DNR) in terms they can understand, and know what to expect if we resuscitate their loved one.  This gives them the opportunity to make an informed consent, without me influencing their decision.  If they decide to continue with a full code, even though I know will not survive, I support their decision and do everything needed to care for their loved.one.

As a compassionate nurse who values human life with respect to dignity, we are faced with challenging ethical and moral decisions every day.  Choosing to do the right thing, every time is easy when your moral foundation and character is evidenced by how you live your life, not just as a nurse.

References

L Kay Chitty, Beth Black. Professional Nursing:   Concepts & Challenges, 5th Edition.2007. South   University. Web. 09 May 2013   <http://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/books/978-1-4160-4473-4/id/B9781416044734500108_cetextbox1>.ast Name, F. M. (Year). Article Title. Journal   Title, Pages From – To.

Last Name, F. M.   (Year). Book Title. City Name: Publisher Name.

Nursing Assignment Week 2

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How to choose??  Homework or TV?

I really like TV.  I really like the Voice and I miss Blake Shelton and I know he must miss me?

What about the Housewives?  Surely they have something new to say, or something new to wear or a new car to drive.

Here I am,  attempting to do homework again tonight.  And I am just beginning my journey…….I just started school and I have until April before I go back to being a couch potato or bed bug.  How do you handle this?  DVD all your TV shows?  Surely you would run out of room before you can watch them all.  Spend all weekend catching up and the TV or spend all weekend trying to get the sleep you missed while staying up late doing homework??
Please help…I need answers

TO chose….TV or Homework??  That is the question

Nurse 76502

Can you teach an old Dog New tricks?? What I am asking is…..Can you teach and old Nurse–New Perspectives??  New ways to deal with patient’s families or teammates?   Can nurses over 55 be retrained?

Can you retrain the human brain to think about things differently?  Can our brains adjust to the cognitive liabilities we have after age of 50.  What if we can’t be retrained?  Then what?   Euthanasia??  Seriously…

I think, as a nurse, Nursing is the easy part.  The hard part is dealing with all the new computer programs we are expected to learn.  The new processes in place.  How to document this or that…..make sure you get that smoking cessation done, don’t forget the Pneumonia and flu shot documentation, don’t forget the core measures, don’t forget to EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE…….or MEDICARE won’t pay for this or that…..

What happened to just being a nurse?? Life used to be so simple.  You go see your patient, do a head to toe assessment.  Pass their medications, using the 5 rights, spend time talking to your patients, (instead of having your face in a computer) and documenting on a piece of paper.

What’s next…….Virtual Nursing??  I have head of Doctors doing Virtual exams??  Who knows, Maybe.

Nurse76502

Ever tried to do an assignment and your not really sure how to do it  in the first place, and then you throw into the mix a new computer….Windows 8 version???

Well let me tell you this…….I am going crazy….I know what I need to put on the pages,  can’t get the pages to number right, can’t get the running header right, can’t get the reference page where I need it….. I just can’t get the pages to format the APA like I need it too.

What do you do???  Pull your out hair?  Scream, throw a fit?  Or throw the computer out the window???  I am thinking about doing all of these.

Why is this so hard???  Will I get this stupid formatting?  Who really cares about formatting anyway?  Do you?  I know I sure don’t.

So in the meantime, I will wait till I get someone who can help me.   What does this have to do with nursing anyway?  I know your going to say, all those research papers I am going to have to do?  But in real life what DIFFERENCE DOES THIS MAKE?

Later,

Nurse76502

OK,  here I go….Of course this is my first time taking online class.  Haven’t been to college in 22 years, and over 50.  Does this tell you anything.   I was the traditional student and now I am an online student.  Hmmm……I think I may have my work cut out for me.

Week 1 Assignment 3 states must be submitted using the APA format.

What????  Does this sound foreign to you??  It was foreign to me.  And I have an assignment due in 2 days and I have no clue what that means.  My school has info online to explain the APA format, but still looks foreign to me.  So what do I do??  I wrote my assignment and found a friend that has her Masters Degree to help me figure this out.  To make matters worse, I bought a new Dell Computer.  My son, who works at Dell talked me into buying Windows 8…….BIG MISTAKE!!!  Not the program itself, but the person using the program.  So don’t do as I did, stay with what you know it will make the whole online process much easier.  I redid several of the discussion posts because I hit a wrong button and POOF if was gone.  I am sure I will like the program once I get familiar with it, but I hope that is soon!

Nurse 76502