Jul 10
26
Syrinx
Last month, I posted about a new way to give medications – the P.L.E.A.S.E. Today, however, I came across “another solution” for needles and kids. Take notice on those quotation marks as I will explain those later. Anyway, I read about the Syrinx. The Syrinx is a sort of modified needle for kids. Designers attached cute little animal figures onto needles – making it look that the needles are part of the animals. Thus, making the system friendlier to kids. Jesper Nilsson explains that there are 4 steps on how Syrinx work.
“One While the anesthesia is taking effect, the child and the parent together read a book about what’s about to happen, all illustrated and designed real nice just for this event. This Syrinx book allows the child to become immersed in the event in a positive way rather than the usual anxiety-filled episode of yore.
Two The child chooses their own Syrinx creature they want to work with, allowing them to continue their journey into the event, rather than skirting around it.
Three When the blood is being taken, the child can (hopefully) focus on the Syrinx rather than the normal looking away in terror situation.
Four After the event is over, the Syrinx is detached and given to the child, kind of like getting a toy with your box of cereal!”
It’s great isn’t it. However, I might have a slight, let’s say, a concern. This explains why I intentionally placed those quotation marks. The innovation is good but what if the end result would give a child a phobia of animals. Or, what if it would give a kid the misconception that it is alright to be bitten by critters – even those found under our sewers. What do you think? Leave a comment and share some thoughts.
When I arrived yesterday from work, mom told me that “Igi” is on youtube. He’s on America’s Got Talent show. Wow! Just WOW, after seeing the video. The whole family with friends of my brother patiently waited for Glee to finish and watch AGT on Starworld. While waiting, we spread the news by twitter, facebook and SMS. Here’s a picture of last night’s moment.
Hilariously, as we watched AGT, we came to realize that this isn’t the same episode on youtube. Oops! False alarm everyone – twitter, facebook and SMS! Haha! Perhaps it’ll be on next weeks episode. We watched Luigi’s performance on youtube for the nth time.
Who’s Luigi anyway? In our childhood days, we used to call him by “Igi” short for Luigi. 
His family used to lived at our ancestral home in Guizo, Mandaue City, Philippines. He is the son of Chito and Helen Seno. He’s the 2nd of 5 siblings. They moved to the US about 8 years ago for a better future. I could remember his younger sister, Yani, who shed tears because she didn’t want to let go of her nanny. The whole family is blessed with talents. I think everybody can sing and play not just a single instrument. You can visit his website here: LUIGI. Here’s the AGT video below. The judges loved his performance and the audience went crazy! Wow!!!
On the morning of May 10th, I woke up early to cast my vote. I arrived at the precinct around 7:15 am. The holding room was full and I was outside on a long line of people to cast my vote. Some 40 minutes have past but still there was no movement. I decided to go home and have breakfast. On my way back, it was still the same. Casting votes was very slow. People on the waiting line started complaining. This was the first time the Philippines had an automated voting system. You’d keep patience on your side. As for me, I didn’t have the luxury of time. I was to be on duty on the 2-10 pm shift. To make the long story short, me and my brother went back around lunch. By this time we had our priority number. We got 480 something. We asked a guy waiting in the holding area, he was still number 290+. Wow, that slow?!? I went home to prepare for duty and later around past 5:50pm my brother finally casted his vote.
Today, my family watched the inauguration of the 15th President of the Philippines – Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. The ceremony was held at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. On the night before, the Aquino’s heard mass at their parents’ grave. I’m glad the efforts of those people who patiently waited to make their votes did not go to waste. In his speech, he uttered and reminded himself of the platforms and programs if he is elected president. He mentioned “Pag walang corrupt, walang mahihirap.” – this was one of his slogan campaigns. Yes, I believe he sets the best example to us all and to all other officials. He believes in justice and truth. He mentions reconciliation but not merely forgetting the faults of those guilty. Again, very true. It’s a time to change. Time to leave behind those “bahala na” habits and begin to initiate change. He has in his blood the legacy of the Aquino’s. Like he said, he cannot face his parents if he doesn’t continue to light the torch in him and every Filipino. I am positive that he will not fail us. Let us all do, help and pray for a better Philippines that it is today. Start it now and pass it on.
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Careers in Healthcare: Case Management: More than meets the eye
by: Betty Nelson, PhD, RN
Case management is a collaborative process of coordinating complex, unrelated patient care services to meet the needs of the patient while controlling the costs of services.
Why is case management important?
While case management has been practiced since the late 1800’s in the United States, it has risen in prominence just over the last decade. Case management emerged as a response to the need to maximize outcomes of the competing demands of patient care, availability of services and healthcare financing.
Many conditions pose significant challenges to providing the right care, especially when they occur simultaneously:
- Physical limitations
- Financial issues
- Advances in medical science and biotechnology
- The rise of more complex and severe illnesses
- A complicated health insurance environment.
What does a case manager do?
According to the American Case Management Association, a case manager’s responsibilities include:
- Advocacy & Education – ensuring the patient has an advocate for needed services and any needed education.
- Clinical Care Coordination/Facilitation – coordinating multiple aspects of care to ensure the patient progresses.
- Continuity/Transition Management – transitioning of the patient to the appropriate level of care needed.
- Utilization/Financial Management – managing resource utilization and reimbursement for services.
- Performance and Outcomes Management – monitoring, and if needed, intervening to achieve desired goals and outcomes for both the patient and the hospital.
- Psychosocial Management – assessing and addressing psychosocial needs, including individual, familial, environmental, etc.
- Research & Practice Development – Identifying practice improvements and using evidence based data to influence needed practice changes.
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Hello, enjoying my day off. I got up early to road run – a treat for myself and for my heart. Father’s Day is also celebrated here today. Happy Father’s Day to all proud dads. Everything’s great.
Then, I got an email telling me that my blog has just been awarded 2010 Top 50 Nursing Blog. Wow! Really?!? 
I think I owe these to the viewers. Thanks!
Jun 10
8
nKini Blog gets personalised
Earlier this morning, I was awakened to the sound made by the heavy rain pouring down on my neighbor’s rooftop. I was happy because we have had very little rain recently. But this also means I have to go to work wearing my raincoat which is very warm from the inside. Anyway, I arrived at work only to find out I’m on off-duty. Grrrr! I logged out from work and went home safely. :C I have no plans for today. Que sera, sera. I started to surf the net, iPhone 4 is out and still the Philippine election canvassing of votes continues. Just last night, I made a new twitter background. “And why not do this here”, I decided.
Here’s whats new.
1. Obviously, I changed to a new theme called intrepidity Theme by Top Blog Formula.
2. I personalized the theme and made my own background (very similar to my twitter background).
3. Added the Follow Me button for Twitter.
4. Within the posts, you’ll notice a ReTweet button, Facebook Share and Like button (upper right of each post).
Hope you guys like the new layout. Leave a comment and tell me what you think.
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Yes! That’s right a good way to take or administer medications. Say goodbye to those painful needles and bitter pills. P.L.E.A.S.E stands for Painless Laser Epidermal System ( I think we got a missing E at the last.) The new system delivers the drug by blasting lasers to create micropores in the skin through which high molecular weight drugs are delivered painlessly.
Pantec Biosolutions: “A handheld laser device creates controlled aqueous micropores in the epidermis. Due to the special features of the device the micropores do not reach the dermis, where nerves and blood vessels reside. An intelligent graphical user interface guarantees simple and safe use by the medical personnel or the patient, who can use the device without supervision.
A special laser source ablates outer skin tissue painless in a highly controlled and accurate fashion.Short pulses practically eliminate thermal damageNo carbonisation, only fast ablation of skin tissueVery accurate skin ablation in 5-10 µm stepsVariable laser deflection allows flexible formation of pore arrays
A special laser source ablates outer skin tissue painless in a highly controlled and accurate fashion.
* Short pulses practically eliminate thermal damage
* No carbonisation, only fast ablation of skin tissue
* Very accurate skin ablation in 5-10 µm steps
* Variable laser deflection allows flexible formation of pore arrays”
Just recently I posted about my experience on what it is to be a head nurse. This article by Betty Nelson gives a claerer and wider point of view. Continue reading the article below and leave some comments.
Becoming a Nurse Manager – Are the Benefits Worth the Costs?
By: Betty Nelson, PhD, RN
At some point in their careers, many nurses think about running a unit. As a staff member, they see how the unit functions from the front line: a unit that is well-run provides the conditions to deliver quality patient care. Providing the right management to deliver those conditions can be appealing.
But very few nurses actually make the decision to pursue a management role. There are many reasons why, with one being the costs.
If you are a nurse who is thinking about running a unit, this article will provide a framework to consider for becoming a manager. There are two categories of costs to consider: personal and financial.
Personal Costs
- Identity shift – Shifting away from direct patient care can be an assault on your identity. You are no longer a nurse providing direct patient care, but the manager of nurses and others. You are responsible for the quality of patient care delivered by others and for the efficiency of resource utilization.
- A new peer group – Your peer group changes to other nurse managers, which presents a challenge in how you gain support from your peers. As a nurse manager, there is no immediate access to real-time support. During the times you need help, your new peers may not be available.
- Test of confidence – Leaving a role for which you acquired expertise and are recognized for that expertise, to embrace a role for which you have no experience is the ultimate test of confidence. This shift should not be underestimated. Becoming a novice after being recognized as an expert can be disconcerting.
- Time – Investing time above and beyond a 40-hour week is required to learn a new role, especially in three main areas:
- the specific line items in the job description
- the network of people who are important to your ability to manage your unit
- the acquisition of management skills and knowledge.
Financial Costs
Being an expert clinician does not guarantee that you will be a successful manager; for that, you need management education. Training can occur via:
- in-services and mentoring offered by your organization
- external continuing education and certificate programs
- academic degree programs.
Selecting the right education approach for you begins with an honest, comprehensive evaluation of your current management knowledge and skills and an assessment of the immediate and future education requirements for the role.*
After a self-evaluation, you can design a management development plan that will meet your education needs within your timeframe and budget. Employers may cover some or all of the expense of a program, but ultimately, managers will accrue costs to gain and maintain the required knowledge and skills.
Benefits
But there are also personal and financial benefits. The benefits often outweigh the costs for those who embrace wholeheartedly the art of management with the goal of maximizing patient care, staff satisfaction and organizational excellence.
The personal benefits can include:
- more control of your time
- more freedom to decide what to do and how to do it
- power to implement your ideas
- a larger impact on patient care and the lives of the front-line staff
- a great sense of personal achievement.
The financial benefit is obvious: managers make more money.
*The 2009 Magnet Appraisal Application Manual states that by 1/1/11, 75 percent of nurse managers must have at least a BSN; by 1/1/13, 100 percent must have a degree. The manual says that “…in the future, the Commission On Magnet will be moving towards requiring a graduate degree in nursing.” (p. 6)
May 10
16
a station/head nurse’s shadow
Lately, I have been quite busy. For about a month now, I have been assigned as “station 2″ nurse. I shadow my mentor, the station nurse. She guides me and teaches me the duties and responsibilities, as well as the protocols of being a head nurse assigned in the operating room.
For the duration that I have been exposed, I could say some things of what it is to be a head nurse in the OR. I would categorize this into 3 – the morning shift, afternoon shift and the night shift. Why? It’s because when one becomes a head nurse, one has different and specific tasks for each shift.
Let’s take the morning shift first. The major tasks for the morning shift is that one has to balance the cases – making sure that all cases are catered and finished within the expected time frame. In case of STAT cases. One makes certain that the cases being “banked off” can be delayed per se elective surgery. At the same time, the morning shift is expected to be the busiest schedule of the day. Surgeons would usually schedule their operations early in the morning.
The afternoon shift receives the remaining cases from the morning. This time, the head nurse still makes sure that cases are done on schedule. This is also the time when the head nurse plots the schedule for the next day. For me, this is the more stressful part. I receive calls from different patient care units, surgeons, residents, secretaries and sometimes from other hospitals. I have to plot the cases for the next day . I assess those cases that take long and those that finish quickly. Also, one has to update those patients scheduled with their medical and pediatric clearances and billing status – in return, I also do a lot of follow-ups and phone calls. (I tried answering a call at home by saying, “Good afternoon. Operating room…”) Also, it’s also the afternoon shift that assigns cases to the staff – balancing that there is enough scrub-circulator ratio.
The night shift head nurse, continues to do similar functions and makes the final follow-ups with the patients’ status. Aftercare is done making sure that the operating rooms are prepped and ready for use.
I believe these are just some of the scenarios to mention a head nurse/station nurse has to do in the OR. I’ve gotten a glimpse of how it more of a mental work. It was quite a leap and a challenge for me. A pain in the head most of the time. (smile*) I wonder how it is in other areas…
Posted in Blog Notes nKini by .
Nurses working shifts, especially those working rotating shifts, have more abdominal pain and develop irritable bowel syndrome more often than those working a standard daytime schedule, according to a study appearing in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Nurses included in the study were divided into three groups — 214 working permanent day shifts, 110 working permanent night shifts, and 75 working rotating shifts between day and night. More than 85% were women.
IBS symptoms include recurrent episodes of abdominal pain or cramping in connection with altered bowel habits. IBS is the most common functional bowel disorder and is difficult to identify because it is diagnosed by clinical symptoms rather than tests. This association was made independent of sleep quality.
“We know the colon has its own biological clock and that’s what increases the likelihood of having a bowel movement in the first six hours of the day,” investigator Sandra Hoogerwerf, MD, assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, said in a news release. “Shift work can cause chronic disruption of that biological rhythm, resulting in that clock to constantly be thrown off and needing to adjust, creating symptoms of diarrhea, boating, constipation, and abdominal pain and discomfort. … The question now for further research is if IBS and abdominal pain is an underlying manifestation of a circadian rhythm disorder.”
SOURCE: Nurse.com
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