Slowly, but surely our HAPU rate is going down. Why would we worry about it, anyway?
In rehab, HAPU is something that will derail the most eager patient. It can even kill you.
As I tell the patients, your skin is a force field.If you damage it, your bones and everything else can suffer when dirt and microbes from the environment decide to invade and make you sick.
Simple but effective...for most people. All we can do is repeat and maybe by the hundredth time, it will stick.
So, we'll keep on going. TGIF to all wherever you are.
Showing posts with label skin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skin. Show all posts
Friday, October 17, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
In the news this week
It's a new year, so lots of things going on. It must be fundraising season, because my alma maters all called me up to say hi...and ask for a big contribution.
The nightmare of rehab hospitals
As a new nurse in an urban rehab hospital, I had a few patients who were not on the hospital registry (aka being on blackout). One in particular stands out. When people called for him/her, they had to give a password to get any sort of information.
For this patient, the spouse who caused the fall that led to rehab called me at least twice asking about him/her without the password. I never gave out any information. The patient recuperated with us and left the state to live with other family members.
I thought of that and someone coming back when I read this article today @nursingpins had in his Twitter feed. Oh, the insanity and the sadness of domestic violence.
On the research front
Some of these folks are seeing promise with spinal cord injury patients regaining lost function. As Martha says, it really IS a good thing, indeed.
Other uses for fruit
My coworker, C., is our wound specialist at the Hotel. She found this gem on staging wounds which compares apples to the different NPUAP wound stages.
And last but not least, Dahey's cousin the psych nurse is cooking around the world. She recently asked about strange looking fruits, so I found the one she was cooking via Google.
Enjoy your week!
The nightmare of rehab hospitals
As a new nurse in an urban rehab hospital, I had a few patients who were not on the hospital registry (aka being on blackout). One in particular stands out. When people called for him/her, they had to give a password to get any sort of information.
For this patient, the spouse who caused the fall that led to rehab called me at least twice asking about him/her without the password. I never gave out any information. The patient recuperated with us and left the state to live with other family members.
I thought of that and someone coming back when I read this article today @nursingpins had in his Twitter feed. Oh, the insanity and the sadness of domestic violence.
On the research front
Some of these folks are seeing promise with spinal cord injury patients regaining lost function. As Martha says, it really IS a good thing, indeed.
Other uses for fruit
My coworker, C., is our wound specialist at the Hotel. She found this gem on staging wounds which compares apples to the different NPUAP wound stages.
And last but not least, Dahey's cousin the psych nurse is cooking around the world. She recently asked about strange looking fruits, so I found the one she was cooking via Google.
Enjoy your week!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
A little light reading
I was reading this funny article about hair dye gone bad when I found out about butter "bulletproof" coffee.
Interesting concept, but I really like my butter with a side of toast, coffee made in a cup (not a blender) and two fried eggs over easy, with two sausage patties.
BTW I eat eggs every day. My cholesterol is good and so is my skin.
Now I'm hungry...stay tuned!
Interesting concept, but I really like my butter with a side of toast, coffee made in a cup (not a blender) and two fried eggs over easy, with two sausage patties.
BTW I eat eggs every day. My cholesterol is good and so is my skin.
Now I'm hungry...stay tuned!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Rehab nurses sure know it!
While I'm resting on my break (i.e. meaning I'm done with heavy lifting for a few minutes), I noticed an interesting e-mail.
I like to tell the nursing students who come to our unit at the Hotel that rehab nursing is really about bowel, bladder and skin (the physiological part).
Needless to say, I'm glad I was done drinking my Hefeweizen when I got this e-mail:
I like to tell the nursing students who come to our unit at the Hotel that rehab nursing is really about bowel, bladder and skin (the physiological part).
Needless to say, I'm glad I was done drinking my Hefeweizen when I got this e-mail:
You have a new follower on Twitter
Kegel Universe
@kegeluniverse
We promote and support Kegel exercising! Our main purpose is to educate and remind individuals of the benefits of Kegel Exercising!
United States Of The World
@kegeluniverse
We promote and support Kegel exercising! Our main purpose is to educate and remind individuals of the benefits of Kegel Exercising!
United States Of The World
Never a dull moment with us at the Hotel. Hope you enjoy!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Yes, we're a little crazy
To the average Joe/Jill patient, what we do at the Hotel seems kind of nuts. Rehab units are places where you can get up and get out, and you even have your own entourage, besides me, your unit tour guide.
Dear Mr. ABC:
Some people think I'm nuts when I tell them this, but it's absolutely true. I'm the tour guide and I usually get the job of helping you initially, getting settled in and used to the rhythm of the Hotel.
No, we're not like SuperLuxeRehab unit sown the street which gets remodeled, redecorated, repainted every time someone sneezes, no, welcome to the gritty world of the Hotel, which saw it's last wallpaper change in 1994. Now, the signs and some equipment you see are brand-spanking new, but that's just because. We didn't want the signs (management says we have to be "just like everyone else"), but we did want the equipment, since it makes our jobs easier.
No you won't get a private room just because you have MRSA. This is not SuperLuxe. Join the MRSA club in a double room (almost 75% of our people have it, and some other bugs for which we isolate, too).
We are rehab nurses, so the three things we care about are bowel, bladder and skin. People will come in asking all kinds of questions on those three things, so don't be surprised. This is why I explained the reason you need a post-void bladder scan for a while.
We'll also bug you daily about your bowel habits, to make sure you're going. Yes, we really do care if you're going and want details, if you bother to look.(If you don't, we will.) Bowels that work tend not to cause problems, unless, of course, they work a little too much. Moderation is the key.
Skin, to me, is a no-brainer. As I tell patients, it's supposed to be clean, dry and intact. This is why we look at it regularly. If you need help cleaning it, that's what we're here to do. If you can do it, we are thrilled. One less bath I have to do, so I can do other stuff you need.
So, yes, Mr. ABC, we may seem crazy, but we care about you, and your bowels, bladder and skin.
Hope you enjoy and make good use of your stay at the Hotel.
Sincerely,
RehabRN
Dear Mr. ABC:
Some people think I'm nuts when I tell them this, but it's absolutely true. I'm the tour guide and I usually get the job of helping you initially, getting settled in and used to the rhythm of the Hotel.
No, we're not like SuperLuxeRehab unit sown the street which gets remodeled, redecorated, repainted every time someone sneezes, no, welcome to the gritty world of the Hotel, which saw it's last wallpaper change in 1994. Now, the signs and some equipment you see are brand-spanking new, but that's just because. We didn't want the signs (management says we have to be "just like everyone else"), but we did want the equipment, since it makes our jobs easier.
No you won't get a private room just because you have MRSA. This is not SuperLuxe. Join the MRSA club in a double room (almost 75% of our people have it, and some other bugs for which we isolate, too).
We are rehab nurses, so the three things we care about are bowel, bladder and skin. People will come in asking all kinds of questions on those three things, so don't be surprised. This is why I explained the reason you need a post-void bladder scan for a while.
We'll also bug you daily about your bowel habits, to make sure you're going. Yes, we really do care if you're going and want details, if you bother to look.(If you don't, we will.) Bowels that work tend not to cause problems, unless, of course, they work a little too much. Moderation is the key.
Skin, to me, is a no-brainer. As I tell patients, it's supposed to be clean, dry and intact. This is why we look at it regularly. If you need help cleaning it, that's what we're here to do. If you can do it, we are thrilled. One less bath I have to do, so I can do other stuff you need.
So, yes, Mr. ABC, we may seem crazy, but we care about you, and your bowels, bladder and skin.
Hope you enjoy and make good use of your stay at the Hotel.
Sincerely,
RehabRN
Friday, May 6, 2011
My Monday midweek
Yes, when I start rotating my shift, I always feel like it's Monday. I work several days in a row, and then, eventually it's over, but it never fails that the first day is momentous.
First fun item: one patient gets taken off the floor after much nurse cajoling of MD because his oxygen sats wouldn't go up. Diagnosis in the ER: PE. So glad he didn't get to code on us!
Second fun item: the dualling trach patients. Who would have to be suctioned the most...patient #1 at one end of the hall who swore he didn't need to be suctioned, then asked as you left the room or patient #2 who would get turned, then need suction or would need suction at the most inopportune times?
Third fun item: Mr. C. got rejected for his colonoscopy that day, so let's just prep one more day and have him drink a gallon of GoLytely again to clean him all out. Yes, he got cleaned out, but it was fun changing linens all freaking shift. Clean, clean, clean to keep him from breaking down. Heavens!
Fourth fun item: Mr. Needy. Move this, move that, lift me up, 'cause I can't see my computer, etc., etc. I would have killed him if it wouldn't have made a mess. (I really like our housekeeper Bob, and he'd probably run away if I made a big mess like that.) Mr. Needy just made my shoulder pain turn into back pain very quickly.
Thankfully, one of my menagerie of patients, Mr. S. was so sweet. He's been training to do some of his care I'd normally do, so he was ready to fly solo. I was so happy. (One less thing I had to do.) I made sure he got his snacks and whatever else he needed on rounds. He was the highlight of the night.
First fun item: one patient gets taken off the floor after much nurse cajoling of MD because his oxygen sats wouldn't go up. Diagnosis in the ER: PE. So glad he didn't get to code on us!
Second fun item: the dualling trach patients. Who would have to be suctioned the most...patient #1 at one end of the hall who swore he didn't need to be suctioned, then asked as you left the room or patient #2 who would get turned, then need suction or would need suction at the most inopportune times?
Third fun item: Mr. C. got rejected for his colonoscopy that day, so let's just prep one more day and have him drink a gallon of GoLytely again to clean him all out. Yes, he got cleaned out, but it was fun changing linens all freaking shift. Clean, clean, clean to keep him from breaking down. Heavens!
Fourth fun item: Mr. Needy. Move this, move that, lift me up, 'cause I can't see my computer, etc., etc. I would have killed him if it wouldn't have made a mess. (I really like our housekeeper Bob, and he'd probably run away if I made a big mess like that.) Mr. Needy just made my shoulder pain turn into back pain very quickly.
Thankfully, one of my menagerie of patients, Mr. S. was so sweet. He's been training to do some of his care I'd normally do, so he was ready to fly solo. I was so happy. (One less thing I had to do.) I made sure he got his snacks and whatever else he needed on rounds. He was the highlight of the night.
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