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In nursing, critical thinking for clinical decision-making is the ability to think in a systematic and logical manner with openness to question and reflect on the reasoning process used to ensure safe nursing practice and quality care (Heaslip)[1] Critical thinking is one of those things that one learns as a nurse. How do I then […]

Whether a patient is seen in a large teaching hospital, small community hospital or prison system, an infected appendix has the potential to be a major abdominal issue, with increased risk of litigation against an emergency physician[1]. Appendicitis is hard to diagnose in that there is not one presenting symptom or finding on physical exam.

Nursing has been known to be one of the most dangerous professions, related to the increased incidence of occupational injuries and illnesses. . The primary reason for these injuries- the lifting and transferring of patients. The numbers speak for themselves, with 52% of nurses complaining of chronic back pain, with a lifetime prevalence of 80%[1].

Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) have become a popular solution for housing for older adults. The goal of ALF’s is to provide support to their residents, while allowing them to maintain their independence and autonomy. Many residents require assistance with activities of daily living (ADL’s) as well as medication management. In order to assist residents with

Do you know what the National Patient Safety Goals are and how they might affect patient care? The Joint Commission (JC), originally called the called “Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations” is a health care industry-credentialing agency. In turn, the accreditation and certification of a health care organization is a symbol of a hospital’s

One in Three nursing home residents will be harmed through medication error, preventable infections, lack of or substandard care and abuse. One in three… In 2013, 8,357,100 people receive support from the 5 main long-term care service; home health agencies (4,742,500), nursing homes (1,383,700), hospices (1,244,500), residential care communities (713,300) and adult day service centers

Obesity is a growing problem both nationally and internationally. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 34.9% of US adults can be considered obese. The most common screening tool being used today to determine obesity levels is the Body Mass Index (BMI). A persons BMI is calculated by a mathematical formula

There is a relatively new private Facebook group called Show Me Your Stethoscope or SMYS . This group was started shortly after the September episode of the View where a Miss America contestant was mocked for wearing a stethoscope and explaining her job as her “talent”. As a result, nurses wrote into the network as

Patients fall and hurt themselves.  They fall in the acute care hospital (most commonly reported adverse event in the inpatient adult setting); outpatient clinics, surgery centers as well as long term care facilities (LTC) with potentially significant and long-term consequences. While falls can happen to any individual, they are a common problem in the elderly

Outpatient surgery and surgery centers can provide another option from the traditional hospital setting. However, for an individual with numerous pre existing conditions (specifically obstructive sleep apnea), these settings might not be the best or safest location. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) most commonly affects middle aged and older adults, especially those who are overweight. OSA