Daily Archives: November 22, 2013

11.22.13
by

Thanksgiving in the ER

Share

ThanksgivingAlthough most people associate Thanksgiving with turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing, the holiday is a bit different for ER doctors and nurses. All of you posted in an ER this holiday season are likely to see a flood of injuries ranging from minor to the extreme and they are caused by a wide range of holiday activities.

One of the most powerful injury statistics happens before the festivities even start- when everyone is still traveling. Thanksgiving is often referred to as the worst holiday for driving and it’s not surprising when, according to the AAA auto club, 90 percent of Turkey Day travelers go by car, resulting in tens of millions of people on highways across the United States- and more cars mean more accidents. In 2010, it was rated the most deadly holiday of the year for car accidents, beating out Christmas and 4th of July. Car accident victims will be filling ERs everywhere, so buckle up and drive safe!

Some of the more minor (hopefully!) injuries on Thanksgiving are often a result of a friendly family football game. A tradition that is cherished by American families is a great way to burn off calories, but also a great way to suffer a concussion, a sprained ankle or a whole host of other maladies.

Another common Thanksgiving injury should not come as a surprise to anyone: Burns.  Between stoves, ovens, and deep fryers, just this one day of cooking will result in an average of 4,300 fires and about 150 serious fires and burns occur from deep fryers alone. Plus, those are just the reported incidents. How many people really want to admit that their turkey started on fire?

Those of you in the ER will also see a wide range of more bizarre injuries. Hospitals often see an unusual number of cases of intestinal blockage. Many patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other chronic digestive illnesses ignore the risks of combining turkey, gravy, and stuffing and overwhelm their system. Suddenly the traditional after-dinner nap is in a rolling bed while the family watches the football game in the waiting room! More disturbingly, another common sight in the ER on Thanksgiving is stab wounds and even gunshot wounds from re-opened family feuds (mixed with-more often than not- alcohol). With carving forks, skewers and dinner knives, every family feast comes with a wide variety of sharp objects that do not mix well with holiday stress.

So while some of us are putting on our festive turkey sweaters and treating our families to dinner, others will be wearing their scrubs and treating their patients! For the Turkey Day veteran nurses out there, what other injuries have you seen? Was anything left out?

11.22.13
by

Specialty Spotlight: ER

This entry is part 15 of 14 in the series Specialty NursesThe Gypsy Nurse could not be successful without the support and contributions of it’s readers. Today’s Specialty Spotlight is from reader and Specialty Nurse Lori Mercer, RN who works as a ER. Name: Lori Mercer, RN Job Title: ER List your education/certifications: BLS, ACLS, PALS, NIH, TNCC Where do you work: I have always done ER in smaller facilities. I can take care of anyone from a neonate to a geriatric patient and love every aspect of all the age groups. How long have you worked this Specialty? Expert Greater than 5 years How/Why did you get involved? Was there someone/something that inspired you to choose this specialty? I am a adrenaline junkie. I do not like the same thing all the time. I have always said I have too much ADD to do anything besides ER What do you do in a typical day? A typical day, I triage, evaluate, teach, implement and of course use my critical thinking skills as to what is going on with the patient. What frustrates you about your job? The ones that are there for drugs. What about your job makes you proud to be a nurse? Is there a specific situation that stands out to you as a gratifying moment? I love it when the patients tell me thank you, or call in to tell the manager that I went above and beyond to make them feel better. Do you feel […]

The post Specialty Spotlight: ER appeared first on The Gypsy Nurse.

11.22.13
by

RNRN Update: Second Delegation Leaves for Philippines with More to Follow

Members of the second team of volunteer nurses – three sisters from California – left Thursday for the Philippines to help in the RN Response Network’s relief project for Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.

The siblings – Mary Lou Catedral, RN, her twin sister, Mary Ann Libeta, RN and their younger sister, Nancy Canapi, RN – are returning to their hometown, Roxas City, in the province of Capiz on the island of Panay.

Their mother, who will soon turn 80 years old, still lives there, as well as other family members. They all survived, the sisters said, but their homes did have significant damage, including flooding and pieces of the roof blowing off. They report no safe water to drink or electricity.

People in other parts of the city did not fare as well with wooden homes literally blown away.

“We decided to do some volunteer work to help the people in our city. These are people we went to school with, we grew up with. It’s devastating what has happened,” said Libeta, 58, who works with her sisters at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, CA. “When you see the pictures on the TV, on Facebook, I just feel like crying. We said, We need to help them. We are fortunate enough that we can help. We’re asking all the people of the world to help the Philippines.”

Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolando slammed into the Philippines on Nov. 8 The damage and destruction is overwhelming – leaving more than 10 million affected and 4 million displaced.

Other members of the second RNRN delegation will join the sisters early next week. More nurse volunteers from around the country will be providing hands-on care in clinics in the northern end of Panay.

So far, 3,000 RNs from all 50 states and 19 countries have volunteered to help in the RNRN relief project. If you have already volunteered, you do not need to take any further action. RNRN is currently calling through the list, and you will be contacted as soon as possible.

We thank those who have stepped up to help – both by donating financially and volunteering their time. This program would not be possible without the compassion of our RN volunteers and donors.

To donate or volunteer, go to here >>

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/blog/entry/typhoon-disaster-in-the-philippines-what-rns-can-do-to-help/

The first RNRN team arrived in the Philippines nearly a week ago. They have spent time in Manila and they’ve traveled throughout the affected area, visiting clinics and coordinating relief efforts.

“What we’ve seen is total devastation. It pains me to see these people suffering,” said Vallejo, CA RN Joseph Catindig, a member of the first team. “Although they are suffering, they are still able to smile, to laugh, to welcome us with open arms. . . . I am happy to be able to give care and do what we do best as nurses.”

Michelle Vo, RN, works in a clinic in Panay.
Michelle Vo, RN, works in a clinic in Panay. Click here to see more photos on Flickr >>

Panay has not seen as much aid and relief efforts as other islands hit by the typhoon. Many buildings, schools and homes are badly damaged, including a Lemery birthing center where the roof was blown off. The center’s staff is busy delivering three or four babies a day in their outpatient clinic.

“It broke my heart, they deserve better than that. They deserve a nice, clean birthing chair, better nurses’ station, more medications,” Catindig said.

The RNRN team interviewed children who were participating in critical stress debriefings that asked them to draw their houses before and after the typhoon and tell their stories.

“People should help because there is so much need,” said Michelle Vo, another first team member from Fremont, CA. “There are so many infants, kids, families. They are in need of so much. So many don’t have any shelter, have lost everything, clothing, belonging, sleeping on makeshift tents in the rain. We see people who are dehydrated, malnourished, kids sick with fever. They need nurses, equipment and supplies.”

Please use the SHARE BUTTONS below to share this good news!