What Motivates a Nurse

Rebuilding After The Tornado in Moore, Oklahoma

2013/05/21 — spotmeinredding

Rebuilding After The Tornado in Moore, Oklahoma

I am a nurse, and I am a woman. But I still have some brilliant ideas to share. Moore, Oklahoma has endured severe devastation, as all across America know by now. And everybody wants to help in some way.

We all learned that in May of 1999 a similar tornado followed a similar path in that area. And we all heard that since then the town of Moore was built back up and has grown. So here are some thoughts on what might be some options with the potential to save life and livelihood.

This pic was obtained from http://www.earthhomesnow.com/underground-homes.htm

Underground Home

Plus, let me place a link here that goes to a website showing how to build fantastic underground houses. http://www.williamlishman.com/underground.htm

So, what will the residents of More, Oklahoma do? We know they plan to rebuild. If they rebuild on their own property, can they ever feel safe again? What are the chances that they could sell their land (for a decent price) and move on? If they try to just walk away, won’t the creditors find them and try to force them to finish paying off their loans?

I am just a civilian observer, but I noted some facts. Some walls of some buildings survived, and so were possibly built to withstand serious tornado-force winds. Some storm shelter doors malfunctioned. The presence, or the use, of underground shelters seemed to be insufficient. For a town that is in “tornado alley” it seems like there would be stricter mandatory building codes to keep life and property safer.

If all of us who think of helpful ideas will communicate them, won’t that help our brothers and sisters in that region of our country? If I add a piece, and you add a piece, maybe all ideas will be weighed and considered? Maybe we can make a difference?

What can be done to preserve life, property, utility lines, phone lines, water supply – and how could storm shelters be built stronger? Or could the buildings themselves BE the storm shelters? Can above-ground buildings really be constructed to withstand 300+ mile per hour winds?

The TV weather man kept repeating for people to find underground shelter and that anything above ground would be insufficient. Many obeyed the warning, but some storm shelter doors failed. And there was insufficient water drainage in the lower “safe” underground area of the school where the children drowned.

Even if storm shelters, and storm shelter doors, were stronger, what can be done to help ensure an exit at the end of the storm? How many feet’s distance does the storm shelter door need to have free of trees, equipment, or other items? And since heavy items may come to block the storm door exit, what kind of a tunnel-like-structure might be used to expand the exit area? And what kinds of debris-clearing tools need to be kept in the storm shelter?

Would it help to have dome-shaped buildings? Could the Astrodome’s (in Houston, TX) roof construction teach some beneficial technology in this situation?

Or should all of the buildings be rebuilt at least half underground, with mandatory air flow systems, bilge pumps and generators? Could the top of the buildings be dome shaped and made of some sort of a cement-plastic composite? And what if windows were at least as strong as car windshields? Could they place chris-cross steel beams separating the levels of the house inside?

Could even stables and farms rebuild facilities underground? Maybe the long, sloping, underground tunnel leading into the underground facilities, could be the animals’ usually nightly path to where they normally bed down for the night. They will become accustomed to using it every night, and they they will already be in a safe place every night in case a tornado comes.

In addition, since the tornado tore away some inches of topsoil, how deeply should the power lines be placed when they are relayed? Should there be cement or blacktop placed above the entire length of where all power, gas, and cable lines are laid?

All of this costs extra money, and people would really have to “think outside the box”. Most people will turn to FEMA for help in rebuilding. Consider the total devastation to the area and of jobs. If your independent place of business has been wiped away, like the horse ranch for instance, how will people afford to live?

Here is my proposal. For a set time period – say five years – residents could work for the government in rebuilding their city. They would get temporary housing, and all other basic essentials, as part of their earned pay. Everybody’s pay would be the same, according to how many mouths in their household they have to feed. Each citizen would perform the work that they already know how to do AND learn to help in at least one area of construction work as well. All work would be geared toward rebuilding and maintaining the city. All able-bodied people would be actively involved in making sure their new town is built back up with the highest possible quality.

Of course, rebuilding using new and innovative construction would be more costly than traditional buildings. But if those structures keep life and property safe during massive tornadoes, wouldn’t it be worth the expense?

It could be a sacrifice because many families, and maybe even neighbors, might need to share housing, for a while, rather than shoulder the expense alone. It could create a whole different type of culture than the independent (sometimes spoiled and selfish) America that is seen all over the land – me included.

After the five year rebuilding period, the economy will probably be regaining it’s independence, and the extra governmental support could be withdrawn in phases. Once Moore is re-established, taxes in that region could be higher for a period of maybe 10-25 years to pay back what was done for them.

This type of rebuilding project is so multi-level that it would need serious legislation and willingness, on all sides, to manage it. I do hope that, if not something like this plan, at least something will be done to make sure that future homes and businesses are rebuilt with more thought to safety – in light of what kind of tornado damage we now know is possible.

Even if the town of Moore is temporarily smaller than before the tornado, rebuilding will happen. And it will probably become a stronger community than ever before. After all, we were all created to be fruitful and multiply and subdue the earth.

Hearts, thoughts, and prayers going out to you Oklahoma.

Here are some amazing pics from http://www.oddee.com/item_98085.aspx

Malator in Druidstone, Wales

Here are some great resources.

Underground Houses: How to Build a Low Cost Home http://www.amazon.com/Underground-Houses-Build-Low-Cost-Home/dp/0806988568/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Earth Sheltered Housing Design: Guidelines, Examples, and References http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Sheltered-Housing-Design-Guidelines/dp/0442288212/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Earth Sheltered House Revised Edition: An Acrhitct’s Scetchbook http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Sheltered-House-Revised-Edition-Architects/dp/1603581073/ref=pd_sim_b_6

Underground Buildings: More Than Meets the Eye http://www.amazon.com/Underground-Buildings-More-than-Meets/dp/1884956270/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369166002&sr=1-3&keywords=underground+utilities

Underground http://www.amazon.com/Underground-David-Macaulay/dp/0395340659/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369166002&sr=1-1&keywords=underground+utilities

The Works: Anatomy of a City http://www.amazon.com/The-Works-Anatomy-Kate-Ascher/dp/0143112708/ref=pd_sim_b_7

Posted in Rebuild. Tags: Moore Oklahoma, rebuild, storm shelter, tornado, underground. Leave a Comment »

5 Tips for Retiring Baby-Boomer Nurses Who Precept New GN’s

2013/05/19 — spotmeinredding

Typical Boracay beach scene at dusk. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

5 Tips for Retiring Baby-Boomer Nurses Who Precept New GN’s

What better thing is there for a baby-boomer nurse to fantasize about than retiring? Throwing away that darned alarm clock is one of the best parts of that fantasy! And how about taking a drive to enjoy God’s green earth? Stay out as long as you want to! Be sure to take a picture of your first retirement sunset. Baby-boomer nurses will be retiring very soon!

Are you a baby-boomer who loves camping – but hasn’t been able to squeeze it in for the last 10-20 years? Does hiking, biking, or sailing capture your heart? How about horse-back riding? Swimming in the ocean? Ahhhh….

When you are retired, you wake up when you wake up – and get up when you want to. You go to bed when you get sleepy – and wear any colors you want to. You can plant a garden – and tend it. You can finally get that puppy you’ve been wanting – and have time free to train it properly & in person. You can even move out to the country if you want to.

As a retired baby-boomer nurse, you never again have to get a stranger’s barf, NG drainage, blood, snot, pee, or poo on you. You won’t have to torture your poor back any more either. No more getting clubbed or kicked for trying to help a confused patient. Nor will you ever again be required to administer Dilaudid to drug seekers or be told to come in just 10 minutes after being put on-call.

Yeah – those are some of the memories you can leave behind. But first – your most important job, before you retire, is to convince the next generation that nursing is a great career. Its to your benefit to do an awesome job teaching the next crop of GN’s, because they might be the ones who will be taking care of you when its your turn to be the patient. Here are 5 tips that will help you help the new GN’s turn out great.

Soooo…. 1. Tell them the good stories. What memories have you stored up that helped you stick it out all these years? Those are the stories you want to share with the new nurses. They see all the garbage that this job entails already. They need to hear from you what has kept you hanging on until retirement age.

Did you meet your beloved spouse on the job? If so, that’s a good thing to pass on. Did any of your “codes” or “close-calls” ever come back to thank you? Do, by all means, tell that. Absolutely share some of the funny stories and insider jokes. Laughter is good medicine!

Then there are the tender stories. Did your heart totally melt when that 100-year-old lady took five seconds, that you thought you couldn’t spare, to take your hand and kiss it? Do you remember that handsome-enough-to-be-a-model patient who was dying with AIDS – and how you bonded with him, laughed with him, brought him special snacks, and gave him your best – and then cried when he passed?

Did your crusty-mean nurse-manager come find you, hug you with tears in her own eyes, and send you home for the week, when she heard your mom had just passed? And did she also make the arrangements to cover your schedule and make sure you would get bereavement pay?

Maybe, at one of your jobs, the nursing staff was close and used to party together? Maybe you even went on a wonderfully fun vacation with some other baby-boomer coworkers – and got a great discount because of the group rate. Tell it. Telling these kinds of things, plus what is in the following paragraphs, could make a big difference in a young nurse’s attitude.

Then… 2. Don’t let them lose their first love. This is the best thing you can do. Because the real world is seldom like what they told you in school, do try to find some similarities to point out. In school, we all learned terminology, A&P, meds, and a lot of theory. But most nursing schools don’t teach the practical duties well at all. Tie it together for them. Make it real. “We do it this way because…”

The culture shock from knowing – to doing – can be staggering! Teaching GN’s tasks from merely a task-oriented base is not going to help them in the long run. But when you tie it together for them, they don’t feel that their four years of college were a waste – and they aren’t as likely to say, “Hey! This isn’t what I signed up for!”

Do you remember how frustrated you felt when you discovered you graduated with just a lot of head knowledge and were not prepared to do your job? As a brand new GN, I didn’t know how to start an IV, place a Foley or NGT, safely transfer patients from bed to chair, or even the proper way to help a patent with a bedpan! I graduated with nothing but theory! I also didn’t know how to protect my back or my feet – or how to manage my time so I could get lunch and go pee. I NEEDED my preceptor.

Please… 3. Say it with words. Its also important to encourage the use of medical terminology at work, so new nurses can speak more intelligently and fluently with other medical professionals. Then they will become more comfortable and confident with using medical jargon and feel more like a professional. So use technical terms with them – except, of course, when talking with patients.

Often, when a baby-boomer nurse knows they will retire soon, they stop using technical verbiage and start using layman’s – or even slang terms. While this can be humorous and fun, it doesn’t create the level of respect that a budding new professional could enjoy. So promote them in their new vocabulary. They need to become as familiar as possible with these new words.

Always… 4. Remember to be humble. Its so cool when new GN’s teach their preceptors things and offer an alternate (maybe easier) method. Consider what they offer – seriously. Staying humble will help you to enjoy the learning. You, as a seasoned, baby-boomer preceptor, are pouring into them day after day. They might start to feel like a leach. Let them pour something useful into you as well sometimes – if they want to. Its so good for their self-esteem, and they might teach you something you really can use.

Don’t do what I once did. Once, when I was precepting a new nurse, while I had a cold, she told me a family cold-remedy recipe that always worked for her. I couldn’t wait to tell my coworkers about this disgusting-sounding recipe when I thought my GN was at lunch. We all had a good laugh. But she wasn’t at lunch. She heard me and was so hurt and embarrassed that she quit the next day. Boy, that’ll put some humility in your heart – and fast. She was bright too – and would have been a good one to keep.

Finally… 5. Teach them how to save their back & their feet, how to manage their time so they drink water, take lunch, and get pee breaks.

New GN’s are treasures. They have high hopes. They see a bright new world opened up to them, and many want to further their career and education. Each one is valuable. They will touch many lives. They will make a difference. They are worth the time you spend with them and all the frustrations you experience together. They might even become a friend. And, with any luck, they’ll become your clone – and you can finally retire in peace.

Now, where were we? Oh yeah – we were getting ready to talk about tubing down the river, fishing at the lake, skiing in the mountains, watching clouds, traveling, playing with grandbabies……. You are baby-boomer nurses. You have precepted well. Now its time to leave it to the new GN’s. They’ve got you covered.

Related

Baby Boomer Nurses: Retiring Baby Boomers Will Heighten Demand for Nurses http://www.amazon.com/need-nurses-retiring-heighten-Northern/dp/B004NYM8QI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1368921860&sr=8-3&keywords=baby+boomer+nurse

Workplace Adjustment and Intergenerational Differences Between Matures, Boomers, and Xers http://www.amazon.com/Workplace-Adjustment-Intergenerational-Differences-Between/dp/B0008J9G1M/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1368921860&sr=8-10&keywords=baby+boomer+nurse

The Career Chronicles: An Insider’s Guide to What Jobs Are Really Like – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from Over 750 Professionals http://www.amazon.com/The-Career-Chronicles-Insiders-Professionals/dp/1577315731/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1368923150&sr=8-21&keywords=baby+boomer+nurse

Czech nursing students. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Posted in Choices in Nursing, retiring nurse. Tags: Baby boomer, Nursing, Precept new GN's, Retirement. Leave a Comment »

Long Term Care Insurance – Pros and Cons

2013/05/16 — spotmeinredding

Long Term Care Insurance - What is it? What does it cover? Is it worth it to have? Long-term care insurance (LTC or LTCI) is an insurance that helps pay

English: Spending on U.S. healthcare as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

the fees of long-term care that are not covered by Medicare of Medicaid. Long-term care can be living in a long-term care facility or receiving extended care in a private home. Long-term care facilities might be assisted living facilities (ALF’s), nursing homes (NH’s), or Hospice facilities. Long-term care insurance also pays if you need to stay home with professional or nonprofessional care givers. They can also cover adult day care. Let’s look at what motivates a nurse (or anyone) to opt-in or decline this option.

People who need these levels of care are obviously those who can no longer easily, or safely, perform their own activities of daily living (ADL’s) because of physical or mental limitations. To qualify to live in these above facilities, individuals must have an evaluation, recommendations, and orders for care by an MD, PA, or NP.

I know a lady who decided to try staying in an ALF in Houston. It cost her $3200/month. She had long-term care insurance, but because of a technicality, they never paid. She had contributed increasing monthly amounts for over 20 years. Yet her LTCI got out of paying. The lady had to move out of the ALF and find a different living situation. Its very important to know, and comply with, the regulations of the LTCI company so that they will pay when payment is needed.

I know a man who was staying in an ILF (independent living facility) in Houston for a while, for just under $2000/month – without any long-term care insurance. He then needed to move to an ALF, and their fees were $4000/month. He never considered getting LTCI when he was still working, so he never had to spend his money on premiums. But now he has to pay quite a bit out-of-pocket per month.

Does it all come out the same in the end whether or not you have long-term care insurance? I’m looking at the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program’s website at http://www.ltcfeds.com/ . They show 4 basic programs in which to invest. They describe Plans A, B, C, and D, with Plan A being the most economical and each of the others increasingly more expensive with corresponding benefits. Each of those plans also has 3 levels of payments and services. The main features of the benefits include: Daily benefit amount, Maximum lifetime benefit, and Inflation protection.

Let’s do the math. Pretend you found a good long-term care insurance policy, with a legitimate company, and began paying premiums to them when you were 40 years old. (We are assuming that your work-life extends from age 25-65.) Let’s pretend that the premiums for Plan B were in line with your financial ability. So premiums at this age might cost an average of $55.45 /month. With a yearly total of $ 665.40, by age 65 you could have paid $16,635.00.

BUT that total assumes the company will not hike up the price every year. I know a lady who took out a long-term care insurance policy when she was in her 50′s. They took their premiums out of her bank account monthly, as agreed. But by the time she was 80 years old, they were withdrawing $280.00/month for her premium payments. They raised the fees a little bit every year. It was with a semi-well-known company. Had communications been better, this might could have been managed better. If, if, if only…

So you need to research the companies offering long-term care insurance for their reputability, payment schedules, and payouts before you sigh up with any of them.

Now, let’s look at our 25-year investment of $16,635.00. You may have already noticed that the man whose ALF rent is $4000/month will spend $16,000 in four months. Had he calculated that amount and saved it up, he could live for four months on that savings. After that he would have to pay out of his other money. Hmmm – that makes long-term care insurance look pretty attractive from that scenario, doesn’t it?

But, as in our example of the lady above, premium rates do increase unless you have purchased a policy with “guaranteed rates.” That option carries good with bad. Its good it won’t increase. Its bad that it will cost more. But, at least, it won’t keep increasing after your income has become fixed.

It is a tricky calculation. The factor we haven’t talked about directly is the length of stay expected in the long-term care facility. Between two websites, I see an average of 2.5 – 5 year stays in long-term care facilities. But another website is telling us, more to the point, the data we really need. Kiplinger tells us, not only today’s prices, but projects 30 years into the future. They tell us (no big surprise) that the cost of long-term health care is increasing every year.

Right now, Baby-boomers have parents who are in their 80′s, and many need placement. So many this age have dementia and require specially trained staff to deal with their behavior. Think ahead just a bit – and you’ll know that the Baby-boomer generation will reach that age group in great mass - and surely that extreme demand will drive up the costs even more. Kiplinger’s website is http://www.kiplinger.com/article/insurance/T036-C001-S001-how-much-long-term-care-coverage-do-you-need.html . I think you may find it very enlightening.

Nursing Home (NH) care is not always as easy of an option as some think. The patient must have physician’s orders and a genuine need to be in that situation. If the NH is paid, out of pocket, it is very expensive. If the person has long-term care insurance to pay for the NH, it can save the family from going into bankruptcy. If a NH is used after a hospital stay, sometimes a transition to NH custodial care is possible. If the person’s assets are few enough that they qualify for Medicaid, they can usually stay with Medicaid as their payment source.

Another use for long-term care is home care. Nurse’s aides are paid by the hour. If a person requires 24/7 care, they could be looking at around $400.00/day for their care. Long-term care insurance does cover that. As with all of the long-term care settings, the long-term care insurance should pay if there is adequate documentation of need, care given, etc.

Hospice care is also covered by LTCI and can be provided in a facility or in the patient’s private home. And long-term care insurance also pays for adult day care.

OK, so let’s pretend we will live in an ALF for four years. Let’s use $3500/month as a low estimate of cost to stay there. That comes to $42,000/year. By the end of our four years, we will have paid $168,000.00 (if there are no increases in costs.) I think we can agree that having long-term care insurance could very well be worth paying for. This is just covering the rent, meals, utilities, staff services, some transportation, and group activities. Other costs of living still go on. You will still need to pay for toiletries, clothes, medicines, cable, cell phone, maybe internet, and possibly an occasional treat or gift.

But doesn’t the VA assist with LTC rent? Great question! Qualifying veterans may receive around $1700.00/month toward their ALF rent. Sweet! There is a magic number you need to have to qualify though. This means your assets cannot exceed their limit for qualification. If you have too much, you won’t qualify. A financial adviser can tell you how to manage this if you run into it. So if you have VA assistance, and a pension coming in every month, your savings won’t be affected so dramatically.

Long-term care insurance can actually provide you with more dollars than you have invested into it. How can they stay in business then? It probably pays off to keep a suspicious attitude about all insurance companies, and read the fine print very carefully. They can help us greatly. But they also could leave us high and dry. If you look at what Forbes has to say about LTCI at this link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/baldwin/2013/03/29/dodge-the-long-term-care-insurance-mess/ you will get an entirely different point of view. He very much favors the longevity annuity over LTCI. So check the data thoroughly; we’re talking about a lot of money.

Let’s consider some resources to learn more.

Confessions of a Financial Planner 99 cent MP3 http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Every-Seniors-Long-Term-Insurance/dp/B00689I7NO/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1368599918&sr=8-8&keywords=long+term+care+insurance

Protecting Your Family with Long-Term Care Insurance paperback or Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Protecting-Your-Family-Long-Term-Insurance/dp/0615767524/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1368599918&sr=8-11&keywords=long+term+care+insurance

J.K. Lasser’s Choosing the Right Long-Term Care Insurance paperback or Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Long-Term-Insurance-Lasser–Practical-Financial/dp/0471152056/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1368599918&sr=8-12&keywords=long+term+care+insurance

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Long-Term planning paperback or Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Long-Term-Planning/dp/0028643801/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1368599918&sr=8-6&keywords=long+term+care+insurance

The Financial Insider’s Annuity Guide: Understanding Annuities and Your Financial Portfolio http://www.amazon.com/Financial-Insiders-Annuity-Guide-Understanding/dp/0984376305/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368934206&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=understand+longevity+annuity

Posted in Choices in Nursing, improve the bottom line, retiring nurse. Tags: Assisted living, Long-term care, long-term care insurance, LTCI. 1 Comment »

What Motivates a Nurse to Prepay Final Expenses

2013/05/13 — spotmeinredding

Annapolis, Md. (July 23, 2005) – The funeral procession honoring retired Vice Adm. James B. Stockdale makes its way to U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery on Hospital Point, following the funeral service. Hundreds of friends, family members and shipmates gathered to attend the funeral service for the former naval aviator, Vietnam prisoner of war, test pilot, academic and Medal of Honor recipient who died July 5, at the age of 81. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Andre McIntyre (RELEASED) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What Motivates a Nurse to Prepay Final Expenses

Prepay your own final expenses? Who does that? Is it just older people that get all morbid and think about death constantly? Is it terminally ill people who expect to pass soon? Is it the thrifty ones who want to pay for their final expenses before the prices increase any more? Is it the caring ones who want to spare their loved ones the trauma of having to make all those hard decisions after they’re gone? Is it the controlling ones who want their ending to go as they direct without any big deviations?

As with almost everything else, the cost of final expenses increases every year. By prepaying, those paid-for items are already bought, and the price is locked in. Even if death does not occur until 20 years after purchase, pre-need products, that are paid for, are secure. If the family wishes to add to the package, they are free to do so at their own expense. Now let’s look at who prepays their final expenses. Cuz, “ain’t none of us gonna get outa here alive!”

So let’s talk about this rather sensitive subject as matter-of-factually as possible. The goal here is to get people thinking about, and communicating, their final preferences. And there is no better way to “have it your way”, and protect your loved ones from getting ripped off in their most vulnerable hour, than to make your own selections, pay for them yourself, and communicate your wishes.

Providing after-death services is a multi-billion dollar industry, and the prices of related products and services rise yearly. More and more people are starting to make their own choices and prepay their final expenses.

Older People – Yes, many elderly people do dwell on thoughts of death. Many of them have a lot of time on their hands, and they think about how it will be after they have passed on. Many of them wonder about their own eternal destiny, and they think about what it will be like for their survivors left behind. Its common to hear them worry about not wanting to be a burden.

Some enjoy a degree of peace when they think of finally being pain-free. Therefore, they may tend to talk about their final arrangements – sometimes to the dismay of others. Some elderly stay active and sharp, but those are the minority. Most follow the path of degeneration. Many of them are more distressed by their forgetfulness than they are by their pain and decreased mobility.

Sometimes, when they know their mind is slipping, but before they forget how to write a check, they make their own final arrangements and tell a trusted family member about it. If the elderly person doesn’t think of it on their own, it might be helpful for a family member to raise the subject and ask questions about preferences. At least, it can be established whether they want to be buried or cremated.

Terminally ill – Naturally, these folks also tend to take time to plan their final resting place. Often the younger or middle-aged terminal people like to talk of their funeral ideas – which are sometimes novel and unique. Its important to them to have the freedom to express their wishes.

The unexpected nature of the impending death of a younger person often means that they haven’t considered prepaying their final expenses. Their families can sometimes pull their finances together to pre-arrange the special final wishes. Having those details settled can supply some degree of comfort to the ill person as one less thing to worry about.

The Thrifty Ones – If a person has had the lifelong talent of being able to make a penny squeal, they might be likely to prepay their final expenses. These are the folks who will investigate the prices of all the major options and then negotiate for a better deal. They are usually very good about telling somebody about their arrangements, because the last thing they want is for any extra money to be spent when the arrangements have already been made.

The Caring Ones – The caring ones don’t want to burden their loved ones with their final arrangements, so they pay it all off before the need. They also don’t want their families to be emotionally pressured by funeral home salesmen to buy the more expensive products and services. They want to prevent emotional over-spending as much as possible.

Keeping in mind the quality and prices of the various services, as well as their family’s status and expectations, they will make their decisions. These are also the ones who are likely to buy a family plot to include as many family members as seems right. They pre-plan in order to save their family from this distressful experience during their time of loss.

The Controlling Ones – You know them. They have to have everything their way – in life and in death. These folks select the clothes they will wear, the hair stylist and hair style, cosmetic artist with details, the casket, the music and musicians, the speakers, the type and number of flowers, and every other detail possible. They leave nothing to chance and have a back-up plan for every detail.

Whether they have a lot of money, or just a little to spend, they will spend it their way. And they will usually have their instructions all carefully documented and left in the care of their lawyer or other trusted individual.

Other people who are likely to prepay their final expenses are single people with no family, practical people, people for whom pre-paying final expenses is a normal family/cultural practice, people who have worked for a funeral home/cemetery, and people who have learned that pre-paying for their final expenses is a genuine possibility. In addition, people who have dangerous careers/lifestyles probably also consider it.

I knew a lady whose husband suddenly dropped dead of a massive PE two weeks after a CABG. His family was nearly hysterical with grief. They fell right into the hands of the unscrupulous funeral home salesman.

The family had him interned in mausoleum. When they later showed me their bill, I was aghast at what all they bought – including many items that are incompatible with a mausoleum space. I held my peace because they were very proud that they bought him the best. But they certainly didn’t need to spend those extra thousands of dollars on items he could never have possibly ever used.

So this is one example of what can happen to the unsuspecting family if final expenses are not pre-paid and pre-arranged. I purchased my own cremation services last year from Neptune Society for only about $2000.00. And that covers everything, including attractive wooden box, urn, picture frame, booklet to write in, and thank you notes – oh, and a cardboard casket and cremation. It even includes transporting me to one of their facilities from anywhere in the world where I have died.

Generally speaking, there are three basic options, and these include (in ascending cost): cremation, ground burial, and mausoleum. There are variations as well. Cremains can be put in an urn, scattered (where lawful), buried in the ground in a special urn garden part of a cemetery, or can also be interned in mausoleum niche with a plaque on the door of the space. Crypts are available in some cemeteries.

There are numerous details – all of which are explained very well in some of the books below. I especially enjoyed the humor and tenderness in the one called Passport to a Happy Death http://www.amazon.com/PASSPORT-TO-HAPPY-DEATH-CHRISTIAN/dp/0595294529/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368570242&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=passport+to+ahappy+death

Due diligence, in assessing all the options and their prices and taking action, will pay off in the long run. According to http://efuneral.com/the-average-cost-of-a-funeral/ the average price of a funeral service for a burial is $8565 and the average cost for a cremation funeral service is $3725. That is for the basic – and does not include any extras like flowers, etc. The prices listed on http://www.boulgerfuneralhome.com/price_lists/ were quite a bit lower.

To help consumers protect themselves, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has put a website together with some good advice for consumers at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0070-shopping-funeral-services . Check the following website to see details about SSI paying a $255 death benefit to the survivors. http://moneyover55.about.com/od/socialsecuritybenefits/a/Social-Security-Death-Benefits-Who-When-And-How-Much.htm

The VA offers some help with final expenses of qualified individuals. Although they don’t pay for cremations, funerals, or other services, they do pay for a lot of the burial expenses. I learned that from this VA website http://www.cem.va.gov/burial_benefits/ . Their rules say you may not reserve a space in advance, you must have your discharge papers, and there are many other rules. But veterans and their spouses and children may qualify to use the National Cemetery. And survivors may qualify for additional items or funds.

Related Reading

When the Sun Goes Down: A Serendipitous Guide to Planning Your Own Funeral http://www.amazon.com/When-Sun-Goes-Down-Serendipitous/dp/0595430309/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368512115&sr=1-2-fkmr0&keywords=prepay+your+own+funeral

Passport to a Happy Death: A Christian Handbook on Living and Dying http://www.amazon.com/PASSPORT-TO-HAPPY-DEATH-CHRISTIAN/dp/0595294529/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368570242&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=passport+to+ahappy+death

The Undertaker’s Wife: Wisdom and Musings; Life in a Small Town Funeral Home http://www.amazon.com/The-Undertakers-Wife-Musings-Funeral/dp/1932902511/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368511910&sr=8-1&keywords=prepay+final+expenses

Thanks for visiting!

Cheers!

Posted in Choices in Nursing, pre-pay final expenses, prepay final expenses. Tags: Cremation, funeral cost, prepay final expenses. Leave a Comment »

What Motivates a Nurse to Try an Amplified Stethescope

2013/05/06 — spotmeinredding

What Motivates a Nurse to Use an Amplified Stethoscope

stethoscope (Photo credit: bess grant)

Have you ever borrowed a fellow nurse’s amplified stethoscope? Wasn’t it cool? Whether or not you are a little hearing impaired, the amplified stethoscopes are fun to use. The clarity of sound makes you feel like you are right inside of the other person’s heart! But, obviously, some of us loose some of our hearing acuity with time, and amplified stethoscopes become a necessity. Its not that your skills have declined. You know what you are listening for – and you want to hear it.

Are you tired of always documenting that the lung sounds are diminished in the bases – knowing that there may actually be crackles, wheezes, or a rub there? Remember all those sounds you used to could hear? When the time comes, you will want to research the various types and brands. So what I’ve done here is to present some comparisons at-a-glance.

Not only that – but why settle for the old fashioned stethoscopes when you could enjoy awesome clarity of sound with a new, amplified one? Do you remember seeing text book pictures of the “first stethoscope”? Well, pretty soon, the traditional stethoscopes of today will be looked upon as just as antiquated.

Obviously, we all love amazon.com, so that is where we are getting a lot our objective data. But, alas, they don’t carry every single brand. So I’ve had to fish around to find some of the others. In addition, there are some good YouTube videos that shed even more light. The easiest way I can think of to organize these is just to list them as non-electronic first and electronic next. And hopefully when you note the sequence, it will make sense. OK. Let’s get started!

Here is a non-electronic, amplified stethoscope. Its an Adscope 655 amplifying stethoscope. Instead of a bell and diaphragm that you can rotate, it has a thick, rounded piece of plastic, that acts as a diaphragm, that captures and amplifies the sounds you hear without any fancy electronics. Its reasonably priced, at about $57.00, and great for the nurse with early to moderate hearing loss. By the time I tried one, my hearing was too diminished to really appreciate it. But it’s owner said she loved it. Here is an amazon.com link so you can read the reviews about it. http://www.amazon.com/Adscope-655-Amplifying-Stethoscope-Red/dp/B000RJTIA2/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1367711375&sr=1-2&keywords=amplified+stethoscope

I was impressed with the reviews on this one. It is called American Diagnostic Corporation (ADC) Adscope 600ST Cardiology Stethoscope. they call it “The ADC 600″ for short. It is compared it to the Littmann Master Cardiology Stethoscope, which is shown next. Some hearing impaired are buying it and giving positive reviews about it. They say it makes the sounds clear and crisp. It runs about $102.00. For more details and reviews see amazon.com’s page at http://www.amazon.com/American-Diagnostic-Corporation-600ST-Adscope/dp/B006BV5MPA/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1367722378&sr=1-2&keywords=adscope+600+platinum+stethoscope And next is a link to a YouTube review on it, which I think you will enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=NhquK7ynpw0&feature=fvwp

This is the 3M Littmann Master Cardiology Stethoscope. I wanted you to see this cardiology stethoscope because the one above is compared to this one in the YouTube video. It also claims a superior sound quality. You have, no doubt, heard it said that certain heart murmurs live only in certain cardiologist’s stethoscopes. So maybe some of those special sounds live in this one here. They are asking only $223.14 for it though, so maybe not all of those magical sounds are in there – maybe just some of them reside inside. You really won’t want to miss the impressive write up about it on amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/3M-Littmann-Master-Cardiology-Stethoscope/dp/B00A2TNGIC/ref=sr_1_28?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1367713113&sr=1-28&keywords=electronic+stethoscope

As with most electronics, they keep getting smaller, better, and less expensive. My electronic Adscope looks something like a hammer and has thick tubing. It cost $280.00 about six years ago. It was great for listening, but I couldn’t wear it all day because of the weight. They are sure nicer now.

This is a sweet little mamma! Its called the ADC Electronic Adscope, Next Generation. Controls are on the head piece which most people appreciate. The tubing is thin, and it looks high-tech. Amazon.com sells it for $149.00 and you can get more details at the amazon.com link http://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Adscope-Generation-Stethoscope-Black/dp/B002ITSDRI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1367903173&sr=8-2&keywords=adc+electronic+stethoscope

The Thinklabs ds32a Digital Stethoscope looks pretty amazing. Its an electronic stethoscope that can sync to your iphone or ipad. Did you know there are aps for that? Its listed for $199.00 To visit their website you can click on this link. http://www.thinklabsmedical.com/ and to see some reviews on it if you click here. http://reviews.protherapysupplies.com/review/1279/Thinklabs-ds32a-Digital-Electronic-Stethoscope

The Littmann 3100 Electronic Stethoscope is quite popular for the way it reduces ambient noises and accurately amplifies the sounds you need to hear. Amazon.com doesn’t seem to carry it right now, but Google helped me find it for you. Medisave is offering it for $314.00 http://www.medisave.net/littmann-stethoscopes/littmann-stethoscope-3100-electronic.html?gclid=CJKaodDv_bYCFQE6Qgod7AIAaQ You might also enjoy this YouTube video done by a guy who says he has used it for a few weeks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTinigBJdA4

The new Jabes Life Sound Electronic Stethoscope System also has controls on the head piece. This is an amazing gadget. It can digitally transmit what you hear to computer andto the doctor. It runs only about $359.00 on Amazon.ca, and the link to see it is http://www.amazon.ca/Jabes-Sound-Electronic-Stethoscope-System/dp/B000X2H8XW Although its probably more stethoscope than most people want, the YouTube video is pretty impressive. http://www.amazon.ca/Jabes-Sound-Electronic-Stethoscope-System/dp/B000X2H8XW

So that’s my share on amplified stethoscopes. You can get a much better one for less money now days than when I got mine. And, really, if you are going to use time laying a stethoscope on a person, you may as well hear something that is worth documenting – right?

Happy investigating!

Cheers!

Posted in Choices in Nursing, Nursing equipment and supplies. Tags: amplified stethoscope, hearing, lung sounds, nurse. Leave a Comment »

What Motivates a Baby-Boomer Nurse to RETIRE SOMEDAY

2013/05/03 — spotmeinredding

English: The number of births per thousand people in the United States. The blue segment is defined as the Baby Boomer by the United States government. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What Motivates a Baby-Boomer Nurse to RETIRE SOMEDAY

I suspect that most baby-boomer nurses want out of the work force – NOW. But are your finances ready now? An insurance salesman/financial planner once said to me: “Will you die too soon – or live too long? If you die too soon, life insurance will help those left behind. But if you live too long (beyond your money), who will sustain you?”

One night shift, when I was in my 40’s, we started talking about what each of us had considered for a realistic retirement plan. One of the nurses, in her late 50’s, said, “My retirement plan is to work until I die!” Another chimed in, “I’ll have to work until they drag me off to a nursing home!” – to which we all laughed – but it got us all thinking about our future.

My dad retired from the US Post Office. He, of course, received a comfortable retirement package. He got a pension, SSI, Medicare, and Federal BC/BS. That’s pretty nice. But most retiring nurses retire from civilian entities and are left with nothing but their 403B and their own savings.

If they have made wise (and lucky) investments, they might be able to pay their monthly bills OK. But they still have to consider what to use as a secondary health insurance. A person on a fixed income sure doesn’t want to have to pay 20% of any hospital bill – right? And what patients use most of the hospital beds? Right – people over 65.

Some jobs have built-in retirement plans. For instance, if you retire from the military, you will get a pension – regardless of whether you were an administrator or a grunt. So – even nurses, retiring from the military, will receive a pension. Not only that, but they have the option to take advantage of veteran’s health care benefits. Pretty sweet deal!

I once worked for a Catholic hospital, and the nuns secretly invested money for our retirement. That money was beyond the matched savings that was contributed to our 403B’s. That was so nice – but they didn’t have any retirement health insurance to offer us.

County hospitals, state hospitals, and federal hospitals all usually offer decent retirement packages that include retirement health insurance as well as pension. Some are associated with the Teachers’ Retirement System – and that’s a very good system. Think for a minute – who of us would dare to put all our faith in Medicare and neglect to have a secondary insurance? That’s a big piece of retirement planning.

Well, that’s a lot to think about – but give yourself permission to be encouraged. Wherever your finances are currently, there is hope, and there is a way to make it work. Let’s lay out some options for different situations. Even if you have divorced your spouse and job-hopped like me, you can still make retirement a real possibility.

First, if you are loaded down with debt, follow the easy steps in this teaching: http://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dads-Advisors%C2%AE-Getting-Credit/dp/0446694096/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367639129&sr=1-6&keywords=rich+dad+poor+dad+debt The guy, Robert Kiyosaki, is a total expert. I used his method, and got out of an enormous amount of depressing debt pretty fast.

If you haven’t started saving into your 401K or 403B, START! What are you thinking? Where else are you going to get matched savings? That’s free money. Use it to the maximum that you possibly can – even if you have only one more year to work before retirement.

Nobody likes to think about this one. But you can cut back on some unnecessary expenses - and you know what those are. For example, how badly do you really need that 43rd pair of high heels? And if you are supporting people who could be contributing to their own upkeep, you may have to ask yourself – which of those non-tax-approved dependents will take care of you – after they’ve spent all your money – when you are too old to work?

I know that’s a hard statement. But I know a lady who works two jobs to pay for her expenses and her healthy, grown son’s expenses too. He bullies her until she lets him live in her home without charge, while she also pays his truck payment, vehicle maintenance, and gives him spending money. This kind of thing happens a lot more than any of us would like to think it does.

Truthfully, most of our bad habits are learned early on in life. And a lot of parents have unwittingly helped to create monsters. But we can break those dusty old ways and develop new, smarter habits. When you get your epiphany, you may need to consider learning to practice “tough love” on some people. Just sayin’. That decision now may actually save your life 20 years down the road. And someday those abusers might come to respect the new, strong person you have become.

Flex spending accounts can help you save money, especially if you expect to claim just the standard deduction on your taxes. If you are one of the few whose medical, or other, spending will probably qualify you to itemize, then (just in my humble opinion) you might find it easier to just submit all your qualified expenses to your tax person at tax time. But if you are like the rest of us, you will just enjoy saving a few dollars here and there by paying for medical and babysitting expenses, etc. with your allocated pre-tax dollars.

On this tax subject, as with this whole blog, I speak from my personal experience and am not a tax expert or a financial expert. But as nurses, we’re prone to share with each other what we have learned along the way. I used to consider flex spending accounts useless, and I actually lost some money by not using mine properly. But, after I really read the directions, and as I learned to use it for more things, (submitting my receipts as they wanted them), I did notice a nice savings.

There are lots of ways to help your money grow – or stop it from shrinking so fast. When the economy plummeted a while back, my 403B lost about $10K before I converted it to 95% bonds. When the economy improved, I re-expanded my portfolio. It worked out well. But not everybody was able to make that kind of intervention, and they “lost the farm”. Remember Enron?

The experts always say to think of your investments as long-term, and what I did was against the experts’ advice. But it was what I felt comfortable doing. You have to do your research, seek out the advice of the gurus, and always listen to your own spirit.

You can learn a lot on your own by reading books by true experts. Have you heard of the Rich Dad – Poor Dad books by Robert Kiyosaki? Here is one that is perfect for the novice – “Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!” I love this book! http://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612680011/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367704121&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=rich+dad+poor+dad+beginners+investment

In addition, a good financial planner can help you calculate how much you will need in order to retire, how much longer you will have to work to reach that goal, and ways to reach your goal faster. You may be happier with the financial planners at a larger company. If their staff are on salary, their advice isn’t based on how much commission they will get when you buy their pet product. Instead, they will be more likely to have your needs at heart.

If you have been reading my blogs very long, then you know what I will encourage in closing: Transition into a new career before you retire. Yes! Pick something you really love – maybe something that is less physically demanding – and learn how to monetize it. The book: “Don’t Retire, Rewire!“ addresses options that can fill that spot. And “Second-Act Careers: 50+ Ways to Profit from Your Passions During Semi-Retirement“ does too.

Some people even go into another nursing specialty because they like to maintain their level of income – but without the bedside demands. The book “Why Retire?: Career Strategies for Third-Age Nurses“ is about just that very thing – as is “The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for “Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career“ .

I have shared with you some things that have worked for me. (I could have done much better, and had more cash now, had I planned better and sooner.) You may have better ideas than these which are working well for you – and that’s awesome. But, whatever your situation, the sooner you take action the better it will turn out.

Just look at the charts. You can save a little every month, and end up with a fortune at retirement age, if you begin when you are 25. But if you wait until age 45 to start saving, you have to save a whole lot more each month to achieve that same fortune by retirement age. But the point is to start as soon as you can.

No matter how much you think old age won’t catch you, and retirement time won’t come for a looooooooooooong time, trust me. It will come. It will happen (unless you die first.) And you will need cash to finance it. So save as much as you can. However much money you save pretty-much determines how much longer you get to live – if you don’t have any other income coming in.

If you later find out you have saved more than you need, great! You can live a little better than you planned. But save money for the future! It comes faster than you expect! Well, I hope I have motivated you to learn more about how to plan for your financial future – and then start doing it. I really hope I am reaching some real people who are really reading what I write ( & not just reaching the spam-bots!) Your comments & likes will help me know. (hint – hint)

Thanks & Cheers!

Resources

Why Retire?: Career Strategies for Third-Age Nurses http://www.amazon.com/Why-Retire-Career-Strategies-Third-Age/dp/1930538766/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367625511&sr=8-1&keywords=nurse+retire

Don’t Retire, REWIRE!, 2E http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Retire-REWIRE-Jeri-Sedlar/dp/B0091XK37W/ref=pd_cp_b_1

Second-Act Careers: 50+ Ways to Profit from Your Passions During Semi-Retirement http://www.amazon.com/Second-Act-Careers-Profit-Passions-Semi-Retirement/dp/1607743825/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367629735&sr=8-1&keywords=retirement+job

The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career http://www.amazon.com/The-ULTIMATE-Career-Guide-Nurses/dp/1930745044/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1

Posted in Alternative to nursing career, Choices in Nursing, retiring nurse. Tags: Baby boomer, nurse, Retirement planning, Rich Dad Poor Dad. Leave a Comment »

What Motivates a Nurse to Change Clothes at Work

2013/04/30 — spotmeinredding

Flea bites on a human is an example of parasitism. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Should you change your clothes at work r/t the threat of bed bugs? The parasites called bed bugs are not just in hotels, airplanes, trains, museums, department stores, offices, and restaurants anymore. Now bed bugs have been infesting hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, taxi’s, ambulances, and many more places. They travel very well and hitch a ride on people and articles very easily.

It is obviously a normal part of the admission process for hospitals to ask for the patient’s name, age, birth date and health insurance coverage. However, hospitals with a bed bug policy are also starting to ask patients if they have been exposed to bed bugs.

Bed bugs in hospitals have become such a big deal that some senators are taking a stand and adopting policies for their hospitals to enforce. If patients answer yes to the pre-entry screening questionnaire, measures are taken to lessen the risk to others in the hospital. At least two hospitals in Vermont have developed a new set of procedures to prevent any bed bug threat from a possible infestation of their hospital and emergency department rooms.

The new bed bug policy for hospitals can be posted at the registration desk. They request that patients report to hospital staff any bed bug exposure or bites that they may have on their bodies or on any other people with which they share housing. People answering affirmative will not be able to bring any unprotected luggage items, backpacks or personal pillows in to the hospital. Any personal belongings will be double-bagged as a further act of prevention.

Here’s a free YouTube video that shows you what bed bugs look like and how to detect them and protect yourself from them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHVhySpH1dQ&list=SPDCE0C6E75436AE71 YouTube also has some videos showing what is involved in treating a home that is infested. And its a very big deal.

I found dozens of articles listed on Yahoo.com about bedbugs in hospitals and what to do about it. Shocking! I’ve condensed that information here for you. Many hospitals do not have a bed bug prevention plan in place! Does your hospital have one yet?

Nurses protecting themselves and patients involves more than washing your hands! Picture this. You care for a patient who has brought bed bugs with him from the ambulance which carried him to the hospital. Nobody notices that they are on his clothes and in his bag of belongings. A few of them silently jump onto your clothes and hitch a ride home with you.

Would it be worth it to bring a change of clothes (in a zip-lock plastic bag) to work every day and change before leaving for home? Heat kills the bed bugs in the washer and dryer, so you could take your uniform home in a sealed plastic bag and wash it as soon as possible. You can wipe down your shoes with alcohol, and that would help. If the problem is significant at your hospital, your hospital may need to start providing scrubs to all staff and have everybody change clothes when starting and ending their shifts at the hospital.

As with any new bug, there is the usual list of concerns about the problem: What does the bug look like, how does it get into a hospital, where does it hide, what time of day does it feed, it’s life-span, it’s breeding habits, gestation period, number of eggs laid, where it lays it’s eggs, what they eggs look like, how to kill the bug and it’s eggs, what the bite looks like, what ways can you diagnose a bedbug’s bite, what are the effects on the bite victims, how is it treated, and how can re-infestations be prevented? Most of those questions are answered in the above video.

Bed bugs apparently do not transmit infections to humans. They leave itchy bites which leave red raised, itchy lesions and can become infected with scratching. “The bedbugs, and particularly the eggs of bedbugs, are even harder to kill than the spores of the bacteria,” says Dr. Dick Zoutman, a professor and infectious disease specialist at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.

What is being done about it? Zoutman helped develop a new hospital sterilization system that can kill bedbugs. It is said to be very effective and does not use chemicals which could be dangerous to patients. The article said it is available in Canada and will hopefully be available for use in the US soon.

But the main drawback to this system is that it took up to 24 hours to kill bedbugs, and up to 36 hours to kill their eggs. They say they are now working to adapt the system to kill bed bugs even faster and more effectively.

When bed bugs were found at a Southern Indiana hospital, the patients being dismissed had to shower before leaving, put on a clean gown, and have their clothes heat treated before they could be let go.

An adult bed bug can survive 550 days without food. Experts recommend often changing your bed sheets and keeping your home clean to avoid infestation. However, even 5-star hotels and fine conference rooms have had to deal with bed bugs of late.

WebMD talked about them too. Their article says bedbugs are small, oval, brownish insects that live on the blood of animals or humans. Adult bedbugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed. After feeding, however, their bodies swell and are a reddish color.

Bedbugs move fast but do not fly. They can crawl quickly on floors, walls, and ceilings. Female bed bugs may lay hundreds of eggs over a lifetime. The size of a bed bug egg is about the size of a speck of dust.

Immature bedbugs are called nymphs. They shed their skins five times before reaching maturity. Their shed skin looks kind of like a very tiny, empty, plastic water bottle. They require a blood meal before each shedding. Under favorable conditions they can develop fully in a month. They can produce three or more generations each year.

Where do bed bugs like to hide? They tend to live in groups in various hiding places, but they do not create nests. Just before feeding their bodies are thin and flat, making it easy for them to travel with you undetected. They can usually be found in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards where they have easy access to people to bite in the night.

Over time, they they may scatter through the bedroom, moving into any crevice or protected location. They may also spread to nearby rooms or apartments

When do bed bugs usually bite? Bedbugs are active mainly at night and usually bite people while they are sleeping. They feed by piercing the skin and withdrawing blood through an elongated beak. The bugs feed from three to 10 minutes to become engorged and then crawl away unnoticed.

Most bedbug bites are painless at first, but later turn into itchy welts. Unlike flea bites that are mainly around the ankles, bedbug bites are on any area of skin exposed while sleeping. Also, the bites do not have a red spot in the center like flea bites do.

People who don’t realize they have a bedbug infestation may attribute the itching and welts to mosquitoes. The only way to confirm bedbug bites is to find and identify the bugs themselves.

Signs of infestation If you wake up with itchy areas of your body you didn’t have when you went to sleep you may have bed bugs. This is especially likely if you acquired a used bed or other used furniture near the time the bites started. Other signs that you have bed bugs include:

-blood stains on your sheets or pillowcases.

-dark or rusty spots of bed bug excrement on sheets/mattresses/bedding/walls

-bed bug fecal spota, egg shells/shed skins

-an offensive, musty odor from the bugs scent glands

If you suspect an infestation, please watch this next free YouTube video for directions of what to do next. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQprULqoIPY Remember – don’t panic. Bed bugs do not normally carry diseases. They’re just disgusting to have around.

What is being done about it? Orkin and the American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services conducted a bed bug study on some volunteers and shared their findings. They found good news and bad news. Of those people bitten, very few experienced immediate reaction, and even fewer experienced reaction in the hours and days following. They also found that the elderly often have even less of a visable reaction to their skin than did younger adults after the bite. But because of the low reaction rates to the bites, the less likely was the infestation to be suspected or discovered.

There are pest companies all around which specialize in bed bugs. They even have specially trained bed bug dogs that are 90% accurate in finding infestations. A lot is going into this growing problem. Each of us can help stop the spread by knowing what to look for and what to do about it.

Cheers!

An adult bed bug (Cimex lectularius) with the typical flattened oval shape. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Resources

Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite! http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Bugs-Bite-Home-ebook/dp/B0096PPGTA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1367389151&sr=8-6&keywords=bed+bug+how+to

Ban Bed Bugs http://www.amazon.com/Ban-bed-bugs-infestations-MANAGEMENT/dp/B00261DO2C/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1367388818&sr=8-7&keywords=bed+bugs+in+hospitals

Vinal Mattress Protector http://www.amazon.com/Vinyl-Mattress-Protector-Gauge-Zippered/dp/B00070QH3M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1367388818&sr=8-2&keywords=bed+bugs+in+hospitals

Posted in Choices in Nursing, Protect yourself and others. Tags: Bedbug, Bedbug infestation, hospitals. 1 Comment »

What Motivates a Nurse to Be a People Pleaser?

2013/04/26 — spotmeinredding

Nurse uniform in the 1900′s. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Are nurses in danger of becoming people-pleasers? Or are people-pleasers in danger of becoming nurses? Are some people born as people-pleasers – or is is something we learn? Which comes first? Is this a chicken or the egg story? Read on to discover some answers.

According to Dr. Harriet B. Braiker, in her book, The Disease to Please, most people-pleasers are made that way from early childhood. But she doesn’t explain why a number of siblings, growing up in the same home, don’t all develop the syndrome. It does, however, seem to be a condition that lingers until it is effectively treated – and it has ruined many lives. But treatment is simple, and effective.

This book is lay-person-deep. It is easy to follow and includes some quizzes you can take to see if you are a people-pleaser – and if so, to what severity you have the condition.

People-pleasers can, according to this book, be found in many walks of life – including in leadership roles. Have you heard of a “yes-man”? We are talking about the person who just cannot say “No” to requests to do favors or extra duties for people. They aren’t doing this from a motive of getting ahead in the company.

To be perfectly clear, we’re not talking about the “brown-nosers” that everybody hates. Brown-nosers have a motive and a calculated method. They know exactly what they are doing, and they can stop at will. The topic of this talk is not this person.

We are talking about people who seem to say “Yes” to way too many requests – and then end up so stressed out that they seem ready to burst sometimes. These might be the people to whom everybody always asks first to fill their shift, because they always agree to do it. They might also agree to serve on too many committees, run errands for too many family members, and help out at too many charitable events.

They agree to do so much more than is humanly possible – and then they snap and lose their temper in a way that can seem out of proportion to their current situation sometimes. Braiker sites many men and women who suffer from this problem and summarizes their case studies. They have a lot of trouble, not only at work, but in personal relationships as well – as you can imagine.

I noticed that many of them often tend to show love by giving gifts and performing acts of service, but they have trouble receiving. They give and do until they are worn smooth out. But those they love and serve don’t ever seem to love them back in ways that can be perceived. People-pleasers are often hiding secret hurts and never feel that they are loved well by those on whom they lavish their affection.

They often have trouble bearing their true heart to others because of fears learned in childhood. The feelings they learned in childhood were magnified and drilled into them until they became part of their character. So these beliefs carry over into their adult relationships too.

The following quotes are my summary of some of the things people-pleasers typically say. “The words ‘I love you’ always carry memories of associated painful actions.” “Saying ‘No’ is dangerous.” “Love hurts.” “I have to shut up and stay out of the way to be safe.” “It was always drummed into me to be a “nice” girl/boy and do as told.” “I have to always agree.” “I have to comply.” “I have to always say ‘yes’.”

This syndrome often affects people who have been raised by one parent who was abusive and insensitive – while the other parent was distant and unprotecting. It can affect men and women alike. Out-of-control, abusive parents create kids who have to learn survival skills before they have learned what healthy coping skills even are. They are forced to manage in whatever way they can.

The ones who grow up afraid to say “No” often become people-pleasers. They agree to all requests. They might become promiscuous, since they can’t say “No”. They have not learned about healthy boundaries. They have trouble understanding where they stop and others begin. They don’t believe that they have rights over what happens to their bodies. They can easily grow up to become battered spouses.

They are so sweet, so good, and so nice. They dismiss their own needs in preference for the needs of others. These are some of their trademarks. This has been programmed into them. Maybe that’s why they make such good nurses. Hospital patients and nurse managers love these compliant folks. But inside, people-pleasers are often in pain and helpless to change.

Their siblings may have grown up with different looking scars, but they were all affected. We see victims of dysfunctional families every day, because almost none of us really understands how to be healthy or raise healthy kids.

BUT, THERE IS HELP – its effective – and its easy! First of all, there is prayer. Prayer always helps situations. In addition, Braiker’s book provides a 21-day action plan with easy baby steps to re-train the people-pleasers’ responses to requests in kind ways.

This is easy! The steps are so small, and they build upon each other. Following these simple steps has changed many into people who are now living happy, fulfilled lives. The book is full of former people-pleasers who have now come to embrace their own personal worth as well as gaining a fresh, new value for those around them.

I don’t recommend going only half way with this 21-day plan. But even those who carry it through part way are sure to glean some benefits. But, really, why take just half the medicine? Take it all. Its got great benefits!

Of course, one little book can’t be the total cure for a lifetime of abuse. And the situation of some is beyond what this book can address. But it certainly gives a people-pleaser a place to start. I like how it helps a person develop a sense that they have a right-to-be who they are – and that can’t be bought.

So, are nurses in danger of becoming people-pleasers? No. If you weren’t one already, nursing won’t do it to you (although it will try.) Are people-pleasers in danger of becoming nurses? Yes, very much so, because they love to do for others. Are people born as people-pleasers? No. It is a trait that is learned during childhood. But some have more tendencies toward developing that syndrome than others do. Is it a chicken-egg story? No – not really. They most commonly were raised in an environment that caused it. People-pleasers are not born that way. But unfortunately, many people-pleasers will raise their children to become people-pleasers because they don’t know any better.

So learn to stop the cycle with yourself now. Find out if you are a people-pleaser. Learn more about what is going on in your head and heart. Understand the roots of your decisions. And learn to turn it all around if needed. Improve your relationships, and give your own kids a better chance of growing up with healthy coping skills. Don’t be a people-pleaser. Being a people pleaser is not the path to happiness – for you – or for those around you.

There are many other books on this subject. But this one is easy to relate to and very user friendly.

So, Cheers! To your health!

Check out the book by clicking on the link below. It goes to Amazon.com. If you buy it there, I get a small commission – and that pleases me!!!

The Disease to Please: Curing the People-Pleasing Syndrome http://www.amazon.com/The-Disease-To-Please-People-Pleasing/dp/0071385649/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366950869&sr=8-1&keywords=the+disease+to+please%3A+curing+the+people+pleasing+syndrome

Posted in Choices in Nursing, people pleaser, Protect yourself and others. Tags: nurses, people pleaser, the disease to please. 1 Comment »

What Motivates a Nurse to Try Moringa?

2013/04/21 — spotmeinredding

Moringa oleifera (Photo credit: Mauricio Mercadante)

Moringa oleifera flowers (Photo credit: jemasmith)

What Motivates a Nurse to Try Moringa?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Cqwk9KFLTI0&feature=endscreen

What’s all the buzz about Moringa? Why do they call it the “Tree of Life”, the “Wonder Tree”, the “Divine Tree”, and the “Miracle Tree”, the “Solution to World Hunger”?

Can it cure the common cold? Can it make your bald head grow new hair again? Can it make you taller, smarter, thinner, more beautiful? Can it make your bones stronger and muscles bigger? Can it fatten your wallet? Is it really a superfood?

Before we get to those questions, let’s look at the basic properties of the tree. This ugly tree grows best in arid, hot parts of the world, like India and Africa. It also grows very well in the Philippines and in Hawaii.

How do they look? These Moringa trees often reach 20 feet in height. They call them “lacy”. Lacy? Seriously? That’s a very nice name to give a plant whose branches are way too far apart and whose foliage is much too sparse. To say the least, they are not very pretty. There are 14 varieties, but the one that gets the most attention is the Moringa Oleifera.

They say you can consume all it’s parts – from the leaves, pods, & bark to the roots. They say that, gram for gram, it has 7x more vitamin C than an orange, 4x the calcium in milk, 4x the vitamin A in carrots, 3x more potassium than a banana, 2x the protein in milk (including all 9 essential amino acids, tons of iron, and loads of anti-oxidants.) They say it prevents 300 diseases – maybe even cancer. And it is touted as a tremendous energy source and gives you a super detox.

But who are THEY anyway? They are scientists, botanists, ethnobotanists, pharmacologists, missionary-revivalists, midwives, horticulturists, family practitioners, and many others. As news of Moringa’s health benefits reach around the world, soon all countries will know about it, and many will use it.

How can you best use Moringa? Do you remember Forest Gump listening to his friend talk about the many thousands of ways there are to prepare shrimp? Ha Ha! I thought so! Well, there are at least as many ways to use Moringa.

You can cook the leaves in with your stew, sauces, or omelets, drink Moringa juice or tea, take it in capsules, include the powder in your veggie/fruit smoothie. You can squeeze the juice from the bark onto a cut to heal it. It helps improve diabetes, hypertension, diarrhea, prevents and improves many diseases, especially malnutrition. Oh, did I mention that the seeds of Moringa tree can purify drinking water and is also an antimicrobial?

The oil from Moringa seeds never goes rancid, is thick, slightly fragrant, is used as a skin conditioner, in cosmetics, for cooking, as a lubricant for machinery, and many other things. Their leaves are rather small. Their blossoms grow in clusters and somewhat resemble orchids. Their “fruit” is nothing more than seed pods – and, boy, are they prolific!!

Not only do these trees easily flourish in arid climates and poor soil, but their droppings have even been known to actually make cruddy soil into fertile soil over time!

Hmmm… Isn’t it funny how this crazy tree just happens to grow in areas of chronic malnutrition – and it contains more nutrition, per cup, than all the food some people eat in a month?

As scientists discover more about Moringa, they are teaching families and seeing dramatic changes in their health when they have been eating it. One of the interviewed doctors said that the children in a certain observed village were malnourished, lethargic and dull before they tried Moringa. After just three weeks of consuming Moringa, the children were bright, smiling, jumping, and laughing. How dramatic!

You may be asking how you can get your hands on some. You can buy these seeds online, from many different sources, and grow your own. Even if you live in a rather cool climate, you can keep them inside the house in the Winter, and they will stay alive. Just keep trimming them down at the top to keep them short. There are numerous YouTube videos telling how to grow them.

I bought my seeds from a specialty company – and paid too much. I then discovered you can buy them on Amazon and on eBay for much, much less. But anyway, I planted my seeds yesterday, so I can’t wait until they sprout!

There is a multi-level-marketing company I found online, called Zija, that specializes in selling Moringa products. Their weight loss bundle, made with Moringa, claims fast, safe weight loss, decreased appetite, and outstanding energy levels. Their prices seem a bit high to me though. But if it works – hey!

So, let’s see – it seems that it does make you thinner and more beautiful. It does claim to grow bones and muscles, so you might look taller. And, perhaps your wallet could get fatter – which would make you feel smarter. No claims of renewed hair growth yet.

But the $50,000,000 question is: – can you make wine from it? No news on that yet either. But after I grow my first Moringa Oleifera tree, if I learn how to make wine, I might come up with an answer to that one. Better yet – you could try it and tell me how it all turns out! And ship me some!

Well, you might be asking yourself – what does this have to do with nursing? Absolutely nothing – well almost nothing. But you might want to cut back on your hours or retire someday, eh? And you might want to have a few streams of income in place when that time comes. And, maybe, Moringa could be one of those streams?

Actually, you – as a nurse – would be able to sell a nutrition product with more credibility than could the general public. Besides all that – when you retire, you will be older than you are now, right? And Moringa boasts tremendous anti-aging, anti-oxidant, and energy-giving properties. So that’ll help you right there!

Well, that’s about it for the Moringa story for now. The links on this page go to YouTube videos that tell more about this Miracle Tree. Check ‘em out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWXZ47P_2BY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaasOlM0Uh0

Cheers!

Oh – here’s a Moringa book you can check out too.

Moringa: Nature’s Medicine Cabinet http://www.amazon.com/Moringa-Natures-Medicine-Sanford-Holst/dp/0983327912/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366611147&sr=1-1&keywords=moringa

Posted in Alternative to nursing career, Choices in Nursing, more energy, retiring nurse. Tags: Antioxidant, energy, Moringa Oleifera, nutrition. Leave a Comment »

What Motivates a Nurse to Use the Best Roach Clip

2013/04/15 — spotmeinredding

Hemostats, curved and straight tip. Svenska: Peanger med rak och böjd spets. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Collection of small Bungee Cords (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What Motivates a Nurse to Use the Best Roach Clip

As you know, all roach clips (hemostats or forceps) are not created equal. I know – I’m dating myself. Yes, I grew up in the 60′s. And yes, my friends taught me the correct use of a good roach clip when I was just 16. Ahh – those were the days.

But back to roach clips – er – I mean hemostats. In my 22 years of nursing, I have used many different kinds. There are the crappy ones the hospital gives you during orientation. Those are good for loaning to your co-workers. (They will ALWAYS return them!) There are the nice ones that you pay for – which you NEVER loan out because you will NEVER get them back. Those – you keep on a bungee cord wrapped around your waist.

Do you prefer the straight or the curved ones? I’ve used both, and if I had to choose, I’d pick the straight. Either is fine though – and when you are borrowing (because somebody already stole your last one), you’ll take whatever you can get! So let’s take a look at a few listed on my all-time favorite store for everything: Amazon.com.

This looks like a nice one – McKesson Kelly Hemostat Straight 5 1/2″ office grade model 43-2-436 http://www.amazon.com/McKesson-Kelly-Hemostat-Straight-Office/dp/B002C5QVBI/ref=sr_1_19?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1365551188&sr=1-19&keywords=medical+hemostats It seems like a very respectable hemostat at $10.88 and sold by Direct Care Store via Amazon. It doesn’t show any reviews yet. All of the hemostats I’m listing say they are made of stainless steel.

If you’re looking for something cheap, here you go. http://www.amazon.com/Sona-SE-Forceps-Straight-5in/dp/B001CTLY9Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1365542979&sr=8-4&keywords=roach+clip Here’s one, sold by SE, for $1.68. You can bet that it is worth every bit of that price! (sarcasm) It is a 5″ straight hemostat. The ad says it weighs one ounce. Surprisingly, it gets 4-1/2 stars. Of those 3 who evaluated this product, one uses it for bead work, one uses it for fishing tackle, and one uses it to hold cigars and to hold arteries closed. (That’s what he said!)

They also have a 5.5″ hemostat (a straight & curved together) for $3.60. I don’t know about you, but I always preferred the 5.5″ over the 5″. To me, the 5′s are like toys. So here’s the link to their 5.5″ http://www.amazon.com/SE-Forceps-Straight-Curved-Pieces/dp/B000W22O3W/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1365548517&sr=1-1&keywords=hemostat+5+1%2F2+inches But this price makes me think these would be better for arts & crafts than for nursing. Use these to loan out!

Next, is a Straight 5″ Hemostat by Elenco. http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Straight-5-Hemostat/dp/B0002JEZ4Q/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1365542979&sr=8-9&keywords=roach+clip This one costs $12.99 and has an average of 4.8 stars from the 5 people evaluating it. Of these evaluators, 2 use it for sewing, one is a caregiver & uses it for part of his wife’s care, one uses it as a household tool, and the last one didn’t specify what she uses it for. The ad says it is stainless steel & weighs 1.6 ounces.

If you like a 6″ hemostat, check this out. http://www.amazon.com/Aven-Stainless-Hemostat-Straight-Length/dp/B003E48ETS/ref=pd_cp_hi_2 Aven sells this for $6.67. The 8 reviewers have given an average of 4.6 stars. On this one, the teeth (serrations) go a lot higher than on many other hemostats. That could be very useful. Usually the teeth start at about half way to the end of the nose. At least 2 of the reviewers were nurses. The other reviewers were people who said they are using these hemostats to clean hair from poodles’ ears or to help them with crafts or fishing.

I used to groom poodles, back in the day, and the hemostats we used for that work were better than most of the ones I’ve seen on the market for nurses.

Here’s a weird one. http://www.amazon.com/Hemostat-Clamp-Scissor-Olsen-Hegar/dp/B003YMIJYA/ref=sr_1_24?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1365545124&sr=1-24&keywords=hemostat+5%22 Its a scissor and hemostat combined! You’d have to be pretty careful in using that one! It runs $6.25 and is made by Olsen Hegar. Its 5-1/2″, is made of stainless steel, and weighs 1.6 ounces. It looks like it hasn’t been rated yet. I guess it could come in handy sometimes. But wouldn’t the teeth catch on the gauze you’re trying to cut? I don’t know if I would buy this one.

OK. There are a lot of Kelly forceps that look fine and cost under $5.00, but I’m not going to list all of them. They are being used mostly as household, fishing, and craft tools. And most of them are not reviewed by nurses.

But wow! These are so attractive! A nurse’s best friend! Look! http://www.allheart.com/Product.aspx?p=pm504&utm_source=amazon&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=cseamazon These are Prestige Medical Kelly Forceps – Colormate Stainless Steel. They cost $7.98 and come in teal, royal, and purple. There are just 2 reviews, but they each gave 5 stars. AllHeart sells them via Amazon. They have a whole “shop by color” thing going on. Love it! Maybe they sell a pretty, petite, matching bungee cord to go with the hemostat??? One reviewer said she had matching scissors.

These look plain and simple – your “standard issue” hemostat – like “old faithful”. Oh, I’m just full of euphemisms today! Here’s you link. http://www.amazon.com/American-Diagnostic-Corporation-Forceps-Straight/dp/B000GHF368/ref=sr_1_17?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1365553381&sr=1-17&keywords=medical+hemostats This one is American Diagnostic Corporation Kelly Forceps, Straight, 6 A1/4 312 and sells for $9.35. It is sold and shipped by pdrmed via Amazon.com (your one-stop-shop!)

Hemostats that are fun looking?! The Professional 5.5″ straight hemostat is stainless steel and sold by Yin Yang for $13.99 http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Straight-Hemostat-Stainless-Steel/dp/B0082F2MHY/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1365550276&sr=1-4&keywords=medical+hemostats These come in various colors with different paint designs on the handles, and they sell scissors to mix & match. No reviews yet, but they look so cool!

These are similar to above. Even some, but not all, of the colors & prints match theirs. http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Straight-Hemostat-Stainless-Stripes/dp/B00C3HA4AY/ref=sr_1_8?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1365550646&sr=1-8&keywords=medical+hemostats For $13.99 they also have amazing designs and colors with matching bandage scissors, trauma scissors, percussion hammers… Don’t let these out of your sight. They will walk away very quickly. Amazon gives their seller name as Modern Med Tools, but these sure look similar to those sold by Yin Yang. Anyway, they both have cool items.

Here’s one made for using in dental work. It must have good strong teeth! (he he) Oh, I’m so sharp I cut myself! http://www.amazon.com/Medical-Forceps-Straight-ANGELUS-03-073/dp/B009T9L8PY/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1365549916&sr=1-3-catcorr&keywords=crile+hemostat It is a Dental Medical Crile Forceps Straight 5.5″ Angelus 03-073. It sells for $15.45. Amazon wants you to be the first to review them.

This one looks interesting! http://www.amazon.com/Jensen-Tools-5inch-Straight-Hemostats/dp/B00BWESY1U/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1365546861&sr=1-3-fkmr1&keywords=excellent+hemostat+5+inches#productDetails This is a Jensen Tools 1720 5-inch Straight Hemostats for $10.56. It is sold by Adventurer’s Bag on Amazon. Its made of stainless steel and looks perfectly respectable. It has no reviews yet. But it seems like it would be very sturdy by the ad. Its not made specifically for nurses, but it looks strong. This one might need a bungee cord on it!

If you have a rich uncle, you could ask for this one. http://www.amazon.com/15523-Part-Hemostat-Straight-Miltex-Integra/dp/B005FCBPL6/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1365549687&sr=1-1&keywords=crile+hemostat Miltex-Integra Miltex is asking $87.96 for this 5-1/2″ stainless steel hemostat. It must really be a doozie!

Here is a curved one that looks very nice! http://www.amazon.com/Itm-Curved-Acsry-Rochester-Pean-Hemostat/dp/B000J5PMDG/ref=sr_1_47?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1365554402&sr=1-47&keywords=medical+hemostats Its a Curved, 6-1/4″ Rochester-Pean Artery Forceps Hemostat. It weighs 3.2 ounces, costs $17.37 and is from US Family Medical via Amazon.com.

Tubing clamps can come in handy on the job. http://www.amazon.com/Tubing-Clamps-Clamp-Protector-serrated/dp/B000J5NUJE/ref=sr_1_72?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1365556395&sr=1-72&keywords=medical+hemostats This is a 7″ Tubing Clamp with Protector, Cross serrated and is $36.40 from US Family Medical via Amazon.com.

Here is a smaller tubing clamp. http://www.amazon.com/Itm-Smooth-16-Acsry-Presbyterian/dp/B000J5M8BK/ref=sr_1_51?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1365556659&sr=1-51&keywords=medical+hemostats It is a Smooth Presbyterian Tubing Clamp 6-1/4″ for $25.05. One person reviewed it, saying he used it for electrical work, and he gave it 5 stars.

Oh! This just looks wicked! http://www.amazon.com/Itm-Straight-Acsry-Heaney-Rezak-Hysterectomy/dp/B000JS2YYS/ref=sr_1_61?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1365556659&sr=1-61&keywords=medical+hemostats Its a Straight 8-1/4″ Heaney-Rezak Hysterectomy Forceps. It weighs 3.2 ounces and costs $48.62. Hopefully, not one of you will feel the need to carry one of these monsters around in your pocket!

These keep getting bigger! Here’s one that is 8-1/2″. http://www.amazon.com/Itm-Curved-22-Acsry-Rochester-Pean/dp/B000J5KKJ2/ref=sr_1_56?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1365556659&sr=1-56&keywords=medical+hemostats This is a Rochester-Pean Curved 8-1/2″ Artery Forceps. The nose is serrated from tip to base. Again this is from US Family Medical via Amazon.com.

I don’t know if this review could ever find a place to end, so I’m going to just stop here. If you are in the market for hemostats, I recommend finding exactly what you like on Amazon.com. The selections go on and on – page after page. And you’ll find a lot more variety there than in the uniform store.

BTW, do you want to see a review on amplified stethoscopes? I used one my last few years of practice, and it made an amazing difference in my assessments. I’ll look for your comments.

So until next time – cheers!

Posted in Choices in Nursing, Nursing equipment and supplies. Tags: Amazon.com, Forceps, Hemostat, Nursing, roach clip. Leave a Comment »

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