On Halloween, they left their homes as a firefighter, a flamenco dancer, a scarecrow, and a blow-up pig, among others. Consequently, on their holiday break, they’ll leave their homes and travel thousands of miles to work with AIDS patients in Maseno, Kenya. If you’re having a tough time seeing the connection, it’s understandable. Meet Danielle Zolnik, AKA the blow-up pig. She and eight of her classmates in the nursing program at the...  Read More »

“I’m sorry. I promise I’ll wash my hands before leaving the men’s room next time.” And the winner is . . . (drum roll, please) . . . Angela Gilli! Congratulations, Angela! (Angela, by the way, is an Infection Control Coordinator.) Thanks to everyone who submitted a caption. They were all hilarious! And, we’ll be back next week with a brand new cartoon! Will YOU be the next winner?   Read More »

Medications may be prescribed as intravenous injections. These injections are also called intravenous pushes (IVP), or IV boluses, and may be calculated the same way as any other injection. Besides knowing what the medication is, there are three things you must know before you administer any IVP medication: Amount and type of diluents Rate of administration Compatibility with the existing fluids or medications It is impossible to remember this information...  Read More »

There’s really nothing any of us can do about it. We can sleep, we can work, we can study, and we can run around as much as we like. But as hard as we try, as much as we wish we just had another minute or two sometimes, it’s impossible to make the day longer than 24 hours. So how can we conquer this little problem? The answer is effective time management. We’re here to help with eight tips that will make your days (and your nights) seem longer....  Read More »

In the past, wristbands of all different colors would greet visitors at various hospitals across the state of Missouri. Some meant that a patient was a fall risk, while others represented an allergy warning. The problem was the colors of the wristbands were as diverse as the patients wearing them. Well, not anymore. Recently, Missouri became the eighth state in the country-and the first in the Midwest-to set forth an initiative to standardize wristband colors...  Read More »

by Diana Lang I was at the local grocery store today and noticed they were playing Christmas carols. It wasn’t every song, but they were mixed in. It kind of snuck up on me as I found myself humming along to “White Christmas.” Then, I thought myself: It’s not even Halloween yet. All of nature is winding down around us and we are speeding up. The leaves are falling from the trees, fruits and flowers are waning, and we are racing to 2008....  Read More »

Nearly two million U.S. workers are injured on the job each year as a result of workplace violence. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), healthcare workers, especially those providing emergency and psychiatric care, have a particularly high risk of work-related assault, with nurses being in the most precarious position, as they administer direct patient care. In fact, NIOSH reports an average of 69,500 assaults against...  Read More »

There’s really nothing any of us can do about it. We can sleep, we can work, we can study, and we can run around as much as we like. But as hard as we try, as much as we wish we just had another minute or two sometimes, it’s impossible to make the day longer than 24 hours. So how can we conquer this little problem? The answer is effective time management. We’re here to help with eight tips that will make your days (and your nights) seem longer. Of...  Read More »

Anger is an emotion-nothing more and nothing less. It’s a very powerful emotion that can stem from feelings of frustration, hurt, annoyance, or disappointment. It is a normal human emotion that can range from slight irritation to strong rage. Here are some tips for handling a patient who seems frustrated, angry, and on the way to becoming violent: Avoid threatening behaviors. Threatening behaviors may increase fear or prompt assault. Avoid shouting....  Read More »

Remember when you looked forward to Halloween? Remember when it wasn’t just another made-up holiday? Remember when you spent sleepless nights thinking about swimming in a pool of chocolate and marshmallow? Okay, maybe not that last one, but you get the point. The days of getting free candy, marching in parades, and awaiting the Great Pumpkin may be lost in your rearview mirror of memories, but there is still fun to be had. If you take a quick look at...  Read More »