Healthcare & Nursing

Healthcare reform has been a major topic lately. What do you think about the bill?

Ribbon Awareness

So many ribbons & braclets in support & awareness. Do you really know what they all mean? I've done some searching & here is a list.


Awareness Ribbons by Color
Pink Ribbon:
Meaning: Most commonly associated with breast cancer awareness, this ribbon is also a symbol for birth parents, and childhood cancer awareness (alternative color: light blue)

Yellow Ribbon:
Meaning: We've all seen this symbol used to support our troops, but it is also a symbol for MIA/POW, suicide prevention, adoptive parents, amber alerts, bladder cancer, spina bifida, endometriosis, and a general symbol for hope. A yellow ribbon with a heart is used to represent the survivors left behind after a suicide.

Pale Yellow Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of spina bifida

Red Ribbon:
Meaning: Most commonly associated with the fight against AIDS and HIV, this ribbon also is a symbol for heart disease, stroke, substance abuse, MADD, DARE, Epidermolysis Bullosa, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

Burgundy Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of brain aneurysm, Cesarean section (worn upside down), headaches, hemangioma, vascular malformation, hospice care, multiple myeloma, William's syndrome, Thrombophilia, Antiphospholid Antibody Syndrome, and adults with disabilities.

Purple Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of pancreatic cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, domestic violence, ADD, alzheimer's, religious tolerance, animal abuse, the victims of 9/11 including the police and firefighters, Crohn's disease and colitis, cystic fibrosis, lupus, leimyosarcoma, and fibromyalgia.

Lavender Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol for general cancer awareness. It can also be a symbol for epilepsy, and rett syndrome.

Periwinkle Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of eating disorders and pulmonary hypertension.

Blue Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of CFS/ME, drunk driving, child abuse, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), the victims of hurricane Katrina, dystonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), alopecia, Education, Epstein-Barr Virus, Save the Music, colon cancer.

Blue and Green Ribbon: for Intracranial Hypertension

Dark Blue Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of arthritis, child abuse prevention, victim's rights, free speech, water quality, and water safety

Light Blue Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of childhood cancer (alternative color: pink), prostate cancer, Trisomy 18, and scleroderma.

Teal Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol for ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancers as well as sexual assault, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and tsunami victims.

Green Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of EDS, childhood depression, missing children, open records for adoptees, environmental concerns, kidney cancer, tissue/organ donation, homeopathy, Lyme Disease, and worker and driving safety.

Orange Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, leukemia, hunger, cultural diversity, humane treatment of animals, and self-injury awareness.

White Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of innocence, victims of terrorism, violence against women, peace, right to life, bone cancer, adoptees, and retinal blastoma.

Pearl Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol for emphysema, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and multiple sclerosis.

Black Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of mourning, melanoma, and gang prevention.

Brown Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is an anti-tobacco symbol as well as a symbol of colon cancer, colorectal cancer.

Grey Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol of diabetes, asthma, and brain cancer.

Silver Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol for children with disabilities, Parkinson's disease, and mental illnesses such as severe depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders.

Gold Ribbon:
Meaning: This color is a symbol for childhood cancer.

Jigsaw Puzzle Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol for autism.

Lace Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol for osteoporosis.

Pink and Blue Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol for miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death due to SIDS or other causes.

Flag Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol for both the victims and heroes of the 9/11 attacks. It is also a symbol of patriotism and support of our troops. In addition, it is a symbol of fireworks safety.

Rainbow Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol of gay pride and support for the GLBT community and their quest for equal rights.

Yellow with Black polkadots: UK Fibro Awareness ribbon.

Red & Yellow Ribbon: Hepatitis C awareness

Black and White (zebra) Ribbon: Carcinoid

Online CE's

Nurses in PA are now required to maintain CE's. The state requires 30 contact hours every two years for RNs. As of this time LPN's are not required to maintain CE's. In an effort to comply with the new requirements, I have been searching the internet for on line CE's. There are numerous websites out there that offer CE's, however be cautious when choosing. Not all sites comply with the state's credential requirements. To be sure that the site meets state requirements contact the PA State Board of Nursing at:

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing PO Box 2649 Harrisburg, PA 17105 Telephone: (717) 783-7142 Fax: (717) 783-0822

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/lib/bpoa/nurseboard/faq_rnce.pdf

New Design With Nurses in Mind

On May, 2, 2009 Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh opened the doors to a new facility. The old St. Francis Hospital was converted to a new pediatric hospital.

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was designed by Astorino, the full-service architectural and engineering firm. Astorino created this state of the art facility by utilizing a unique process that gained insights into the hearts and minds of patients, families and staff. The result is a hospital that meets the deepest needs of all who will inhabit this 10-acre campus for generations to come.

Nurses are getting older and fewer young professionals are entering the field of nursing. As a result, meeting the needs of these older nurses has become an issue in healthcare today. Astorino interviewed several nurses to find out what issues they had at work. It was from their input that Astorino attempted to solve these problems through innovative design.

Heavy lifting, inconvenient work stations and labor-intensive equipment were some of the results from the interview. With this in mind, Astorino used its experience in architecture and design to lessen the physical burden that occurs on a daily basis in the field of nursing.

According to, Astorino several features that benefit nurses directly are:

• Computerized room-level observation stations and decentralized nurses’ stations allow caregivers to closely monitor and remain in close proximity of patient
  

Integration of mobile and wireless technologies such as patient alarms via wireless phones add flexibility and eliminate the need for burdensome equipment

Supply cabinets and medicine dispensers in close proximity to patient rooms offer easy access to supplies and medications

As a seasoned nurse, I feel that these are all an excellent benefits. Supplies at my fingertips, computerized charting and wireless phones to communicate, all I can say is WOW! These features have been a long time in coming to the nursing profession.

Resources:
http://discoverdesignbuild.com/?p=143
http://www.gofathom.com/

Moving Day

On May 2, 2009 Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh will say good bye to it's old location & hello to it's new one. Children's will open the doors to the ER around 6 am.

Pittsburgh Nurse Group

Calling all Pittsburgh Nurses. Are you interested in meeting other nurses? I would like to start a group that would meet to talk about trends, issues & current topics. If interested please contact me at: pittsburghnurse@comcast.net

Moving Day

The big move for the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh is scheduled to occur May 2, 2009.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09053/950912-52.stm