While many feel that COVID is “over,” the Delta variant is surging and the number of cases are increasing for the first time in months. Curfews and mask mandates are even being resumed in many countries and cities. This blog series will explore COVID-19; what it is, how it evolved, how it has affected the [...]
When the pandemic first started here in the United States, there were no rules or mandates to dictate how to handle exposure to a Covid-19 positive patient, or how to address a nurse testing positive for the virus. At first, nurses with positive exposure were told to go home and quarantine for two weeks. As [...]
We have all heard about masks. Masks are mandatory nearly everywhere indoors except for your own home. Masks must be worn at restaurants at all times unless seated at your table. For healthcare providers, masks are worn throughout their entire shift, and the patients must wear a mask as well (unless unable or medically exempt). [...]
The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 17, 2020. by Marie McCullough. Obesity, a risk factor for severe effects of COVID-19, continues to become more common, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Click here to read more.
Nurse’s aides are the backbone of any institution, especially in nursing homes. The requirement to become a nurse’s aide is 75 hours of training and orientation. These individuals may then obtain vital signs, perform hygiene care, assist in ambulation and patient transfers between beds, chairs, wheelchairs, and other transporting devices, and often are the first [...]
In the last 17 days, there have been over one million new Covid-19 positive results in the United States, bringing the nationwide total to over five million cases (Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, 2020). In the last two weeks of July, over 97,000 children have tested positive (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2020). The experts are [...]
In 2006, The Institute of Medicine issued a shocking report on the prevalence of medication errors in the United States. A medication error involves any breakdown or failure, either from prescription of a medication or the medication being used or administered properly (Wu, 2006). They can include improper prescribing, ordering, dispensing, administering, and drug monitoring [...]
Health care professionals come in contact with many different infectious diseases on a daily basis. When working so closely with patients, it is important they be provided with the appropriate tools to protect themselves from these infections. It is also important that providers are educated on the different forms of disease transmission and what equipment [...]
In the previous blog post an overview of high-alert medications was provided. The term “high-alert medications” was defined, four classes of drugs commonly included in high-alert medication lists were identified, and general prevention strategies were outlined. Knowledge and awareness regarding the consequences of high-alert medication errors is valuable. However, it may be even more important [...]
When a person is admitted to the hospital due to a disease, illness, or injury there is a reasonable expectation that if medication is needed it will be appropriate for the individual’s specific condition and prescribed at a safe dosage. However, mistakes involving medications are among one of the most common healthcare errors resulting in [...]