Dear Nurses

Saturday, March 29, 2008

CRANIAL NERVES IN REVIEW


Do you remember your cranial nerves? Even if you are not familiar with the 12 cranial nerves, a simple way to learn and assess them has been prepared for you. We see many patients with neurological deficits.

When you assess a stroke ,trauma or brain tumor patient, do you really understand
which cranial nerves might be injured? Well, just click on the link:
and your questions will be answered.

CEREBRAL FUNCTION IN REVIEW


Do you remember the basic functions of each cerebral hemisphere? Just in case you have forgotten just click on the link at the side:
VOLUME 3- ACCURATE NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT will help answer your questions.

Friday, March 21, 2008

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL NURSES


HAVE A GOOD EASTER WEEKEND! Enjoy learning more about the Clinical Setting.

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE REMEMBERED


Hi guys,


Do you ever stop to remember how the Nursing profession got going? Well, let us not forget to give the credit to Florence Nightingale. The one who started with simple things such as love, caring and compassion.
Today, we have come along way from the simplicity that started this noble profession, but those
words can still be valuable to us all. So, let us try to remember as we celebrate this Easter , to try to love and care for our patients, family and coworkers.
I trully appreciate all that I have learnt over the years, from bad situations to good ones in the Clinical Setting. These have all come together to make a contribution, that I can share with you.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

THE CLINICAL SETTING STEP BY STEP


Hi guys,


Hope you had a good week. In Febuary, I mentioned a collection of Clinical scenarios which might be helpful, coming soon . Guess what, I have not forgotten. I am still working on it and hope to have the program ready in a few weeks. So, keep heart! Have a good week and be good to each other.
God bless you all.

ANEURYSMS IN REVIEW


An aneurysm is a balloon or bulge in a blood vessel.

Learn more about subarachnoid hemorrhage below:

PARALYTIC ILEUS IN REVIEW


Updated 6/23
Paralytic ileus may occur in the postoperative period.
Simply, click on the link:
and enjoy watching the video:

LIVER FAILURE IN REVIEW


This blog is full of helpful Clinical situations that may have been forgotten. Liver Failure was posted in JULY, 2007. How do you review Liver Failure? Enjoy learning more,
(chapter 10).
For additional information visit: SESSIONS 2

Saturday, March 08, 2008

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS EKG - ASYSTOLE


Hi guys,


Hope you had a good week. The series WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS EKG has come to a close with Asystole. When the cardiac monitor shows Asystole, the heart is at a standstill and the patient is in full cardiac arrest. Outcomes are not always successful after treatment and the family involved, may be forced to make critical decisions. I hope to have more helpful clinical situations for you soon. I hope you have been able to benefit in one way or another from simple explanations of some of the commonest EKG rhythms.
for Asystole go to page 40

Have a good week.
You may also enjoy watching the Clinical Videos called SESSIONS, in particular,
watch Sessions 16 through 18


ADDRESSING PEA (Pulseless Electrical Activity)


PEA - Pulseless Electrical Activity is a rhythm that requires immediate treatment. ACLS guidelines are followed to treat this rhythm. Typically, patients have electrical conduction from the heart, but the clinical picture is a patient who does not respond and needs CPR. Drugs such as Epinephrine and Atropine are included in the ACLS protocol.
Hypovolemia ( chapter 1)is a common cause.

Updated 5/23
You may also enjoy watching the Clinical Videos:

CORRECT ASSESSMENT OF CHEST PAIN IN THE CLINICAL SETTING

The consequences of ignoring chest pain in the clinical setting may be fatal. Chest pain should never be ignored. Below, the result of the above nurse's decision is addressed.
For more information on assessing chest pain visit:
http://www.dearnurses.com/chest_pain_series_-_master_your_clinical
and
http://www.dearnurses.net/the_clinical_setting_step_by_step

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS EKG-VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION

Ventricular Fibrillation is a lethal rhythm and requires immediate and skillful treatment. The ventricles of the heart "quiver" and there are no heart contractions. It is commonly seen in cardiac arrest.The patient above, was successfully converted to Sinus Rhythm with PVCs.

You may also enjoy watching the Clinical Videos called SESSIONS, in particular,
watch Sessions 16 through 18.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH EKG-TREATMENT OF VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION


Causes and Treatment of V-Fib are outlined above.
For more info on Ventricular Fibrillation visit:

CORRECT CHEST PAIN ASSESSMENT


Chest pain ( Sessions 12) should never be ignored, no matter how simple. Assessment, documentation and intervention if necessary, should be done. These simple steps above
may be life-saving.
Enjoy reading Chest Pain Series for more information on this topic and
Myocardial Infarction(Chapter 1).

Saturday, March 01, 2008

HAVE A GOOD WEEK


GOD BLESS YOU MY FELLOW NURSES. HAVE A GOOD WEEK. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR PATIENTS AND TRY TO HELP EACH OTHER. ENJOY LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE CLINICAL SETTING.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS EKG SERIES - TORSADES DE POINTES


Hi guys,


Hope you had a good week. I have tried to simplify TORSADES DE POINTES , which is a form of Ventricular Tachycardia. It is commonly found in patients who are chronic alcoholics and who are poorly nourished. Lack of Magnesium ( read also Preeclampsia, chapter 3)is usually the cause in chronic alcoholism.
Treatment is directed at correcting the cause.
For more information on Torsades de Pointes visit:
for Torsades go to page 33

You may also enjoy watching the Clinical Videos called SESSIONS, in particular
watch Sessions 16 through 18.

RECOGNIZING TORSADES DE POINTES

Torsades de Pointes is a form of Ventricular Tachycardia. It is rare and
requires IMMEDIATE TREATMENT!
Causes include hypomagnesium, antiarrhythmic drugs that may prolong the Q-T interval and
myocardial infarction. Quinidine may cause Torsades de Pointes.
Symptoms include - Dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, hypotension and palpitations.

Dear nurses,
For more updated information, please
learn more by clicking on the link:
Updated 5/23

WHAT IS A PVC?


A PVC is a Premature Ventricular Contraction . Typically, the ventricle contracts prematurely and the QRS is wider than normal. Heart disease may or may not be present. Anxiety or stress are known causes. Other causes include:- Myocardial infarction, Amphetamines, Cocaine,
Caffeine and over-exhaustion.
Treatment is directed at the cause.

You may also enjoy watching the Clinical Videos called SESSIONS, you may also
find Sessions 16 through 18 very useful