Teach your patient how sodium affects heart failure Anderson, Jessica L Tell him how restricting dietary sodium will help him prevent complications, then review what he needs to know. By Jessica L. Anderson, RN, MSN After coming to the emergency department with shortness of breath, dry cough, and swollen ankles, Lorne Paxon, 65, is admitted […]
Category: Nursing
“Help me catch my breath!”: Here’s how to find the cause of your patient’s dyspnea and respond appropriately Whiteman, Kim You’re walking down the hospital corridor when you see a call light go on for room 106. As you enter the room, Mrs. Rooney says frantically, “Nurse, help me catch my breath!” Dyspnea, or shortness […]
Device zeros in on cancer cells postlumpectomy Following lumpectomy for breast cancer, women may now undergo follow-up treatment with the newly approved MammoSite Radiation Therapy System. Called a brachytherapy applicator, the device is designed to irradiate the surgical site where the lump was removed with minimal damage to surrounding tissue. It consists of a hollow […]
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Tips to avoid double dosing
Tips to avoid double dosing Cohen, Michael R When more than one practitioner administers drugs to a patient during a shift, the risk of double dosing increases. For example, one nurse might hang an ordered insulin drip for a patient being switched from subcutaneous insulin therapy and another nurse, unaware of the change, might administer […]
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Basics of oxygen therapy
Basics of oxygen therapy Pruitt, William C Find out how to choose the right oxygen delivery device for your patient’s condition. ALTHOUGH COMMON as the air we breathe, oxygen is also a drug that can be dangerous if used improperly. In this article, we’ll describe when oxygen therapy is indicated and how to administer supplemental […]
Digital mammography: Enhanced imaging in real time Tasota, Frederick J DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY provides clearer images of breast tissue than X-ray mammography and more accurate cancer screening. As nurses, we can help women understand the difference between the two tests and explain the added value of digital mammography. Recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, […]
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What’s in store for RNs?
What’s in store for RNs? JOB TRENDS According to the Occupational Out– look Handbook, employment for RNs is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through the year 2008. These trends fuel the growth: * technologic advances in patient care that allow more medical problems to be treated successfully * more emphasis on […]
What you need to know about the smallpox vaccine Karber, Sharon Delivered via a unique technique, the smallpox vaccine is the best defense against this ancient scourge, now considered a potential agent of bioterrorism. Whether you’re getting the vaccine or giving it, read this first. BY SHARON KARBER, RN, CS, MSN, AND NANCY FASANO, MA […]
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How do I manage a lumbar drain?
How do I manage a lumbar drain? Overstreet, Maria CLINICAL QUERIES Two days ago, my patient, a 45-year-old woman, had a dural fistula repair with a lumbar drain placement. According to the orders, the lumbar drain should maintain an output of 15 to 20 ml/hour by gravity. But whenever she changes positions, the amount of […]
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Care for teenagers falls short
Care for teenagers falls short E.D. VISITS Many teenagers diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) during emergency department (ED) visits don’t get proper treatment, according to a new study. Researchers also found that male teens were more likely than females to receive proper care for STDs. Researchers looked at data covering 1.2 million ED visits […]