NCLEX Preparation

I know first hand that taking Nursing Boards can cause much anxiety for a new grad. So much is going on since graduation from Nursing School. You probably have started a new job & are on orientation. Learning more clinical skills now, than when you were in school. Your patient ratio will slowly increase. The number of meds that your patients require will double or even triple than when you where in school. You will also performing nursing procedures that you may have not done before like irrigating a G tube or flushing a central line. You now are working 8 to 12 hours a day if not more. Working shifts can really be stress on a person if they have never done it before. On top of all of this, you are preparing for the NCLEX. Talk about STRESS. What is a new grad to do? Well I have a solution.

STAT Nursing Consultants, is a Pittsburgh based consulting group & have been helping nursing students and graduates decrease their anxiety and enhance their thinking skills on tests. They help students who are at-risk of failing in nursing school and graduates who have failed the NCLEX. STAT Nursing Consultants use cognitive and behavioral techniques that can also be taught to improve any nursing student or graduate's test scores.

I have used STAT Nursing Consultants years ago after failing the NCLEX the first time I took it. STAT Nursing Consultants was well worth it. I felt relaxed & confident going in to take the exam. And yes, I passed my boards after my second try. I highly recommend using STAT Nursing Consultants.

For more information go to their website: http://www.statnursing.org/

Sarcoidosis

I was shocked to hear about the death of actor Bernie Mac & that he had Sarcoidosis. This rare disease is not something new to me. About 5 years ago my mother-in-law was having respiratory problems. She didn't think any thing of it, being that it was cold & flu season. However, when she was having difficulty breathing one Sunday afternoon, completely changed our lives.

She was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia, admitted for treatment & then discharged, only to be readmitted again. This time numerous tests & procedures. The anxiety of possible lung cancer. Then the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. My mother-in-law & I both being nurses have never heard of this diagnosis. This is when the research began. Here is a great website to get more information about this rare disease: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/sarc/sar_whatis.html

Famous actor & Revlon model Karen Duffy also was diagnosed with the same disease. Read more about her at:

http://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/1011duffy.htm

http://www.inspire.com/groups/stop-sarcoidosis/discussion/famous-people-with-sarcoidosis/

Teen Idol Speaks Out On Diabetes

Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers spoke on Fox & Friends today about his diabetes & to raise awareness of Juvenile Diabetes. Nick was diagnosed 3 years ago with Juvenile Diabetes. Symptom free, with the exception of a 15 lbs weight loss. Nick is making this a positive experience. First he said, “Why me?” Now he’s saying “Why not?”

See the complete interview on Fox & Friends.
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=2970617&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/foxfriends/

CE Credits

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing has online CE's that are approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Check out the website for more info.

http://www.nursing.pitt.edu/academics/ce/index.jsp

Dr. Makes Kidney Machine For Young Patient

I came across this info on another blog & felt I had to share this with you. Check it out & see what you think. If only all doctors would be this compassionate.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7542404.stm

Getting Fit

Childhood obesity is on the rise. This is a fact. Working as a School Nurse I have seen it first hand. We are required to send letters home to the parents for those who are at risk (BMI greater than 85%) & those who are over. Lots of paperwork & mundane calculations.

How do we encourage & teach these kids about getting fit? I am always brainstorming for new ideas "How can I connect with these kids?" Then last night while laying in bed, the light bulb went off. The Wii Fit! I know from recent experience with one that it is a great workout. Goals are set, you create a virtual trainer & your progress is tracked. Of course not everyone will have one. But if I know a student has one or a parent asks for advice, this may be a suggestion.

http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx

Percentile Range:

Underweight -Less than the 5th percentile
Healthy weight-5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
At risk of overweight-85th to less than the 95th percentile
Overweight-Equal to or greater than the 95th percentile

New School Year, New Requirements

Wow! It is already August & school will be starting at the end of the month. August 28, to be exact. This will be my third year as a school nurse, I wonder what adventures await me this year?

One big challenge will be the massive paperwork with the new immunization requirements. I am dreading the non-compliant parents who won't send in the paperwork by the required deadline. Letters were sent in the spring by the superintendent, a note on report cards by the principal & a letter by the principal via snail mail. I think 3 notices are suffient, however this is only my opinion.

Here are the new requirements that will take place this school year. I have checked the Allegheny Health Department & PA Department of Health websites & the 2008-2009 immunizations are not listed at this time.

NEW SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION REGULATIONS (phased in by 08/31/08)
All grades K-12
4 doses of tetanus (1 dose after the 4th birthday); 3 doses if series started after 7
years of age
4 doses of diphtheria (1 dose after the 4th birthday); 3 doses if series started
after 7 years of age
3 doses of polio
2 doses of measles
2 doses of mumps
1 dose of rubella
3 doses of hepatitis B
2 doses of varicella or written statement from physician/designee indicating
month and year of disease or serologic proof of immunity

Grades 7-12 (in addition to the above vaccines)
1 dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap)
1 dose of meningitis vaccine (MCV4)