This article will explore the development of alternative patient care philosophies and will attempt to explain the differences between the terms used to describe the various approaches. This article will begin will a discussion of conventional health care and then the following models of health care will be described:
In medieval times the term hospice meant a refuge for ill or tired travelers. In other countries hospices are specific buildings where care is provided only for patients of life limiting illnesses. However, in the US hospice care is a term that denotes care to the terminally ill patient at the location of his or her choosing.
That location can be the patient's home, a family member's home or an institution. The concept of hospice is the recognition of the end of life as part of a natural process. The desire is to help a patient at that stage cope with that progression as positively and with as much dignity and respect as possible. Hospice care also recognizes the importance of the involvement of the patient's family in the decisions involved in the patient's care.
Not only do you have to take care of your nutritional needs with healthy snacks, you also need to consider the main meals of the day. Ask any busy nurse, or heck any working professional, with a family what they feel is one of the biggest struggles they face every week and the answer will be clear: meal time for the family. A lot of nurse mothers and fathers work long shifts, including overnight and weekend shifts. Unfortunately, getting home late or leaving for work early can make putting together a healthy family meal nearly impossible. While ordering a pizza or picking up take-out on the way home may seem like a quick solution, it is not always the healthiest or most economical choice to make. (No, those aren't the meals pictured at the left 
)
If you are a busy nurse concerned about providing proper meals for your family , we have some simple make-ahead meal ideas that are not only delicious, but the leftovers make great microwavable lunches for your next day's lunch break. Here are some unique receipes for you from MNU!
According to a study by researchers at UCLA's Jonsonn Cancer Center about 16% of the nurses in the United States smoke. The same study shows that smoking has negative impacts on nurses' interactions with patients, such as making addicted nurses spend less time with patients and more time taking frequent breaks. It's a nasty, unhealthy that has thousands of people in its grips, and every year thousands of people die from diseases directly related to smoking. Let's get down to some serious facts:
More than 430,000 deaths occur every year from smoking-related illnesses and disease. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2003 approximately 171,900 new cases of lung cancer were reported, with 157,200 dying from lung cancer. Men who smoke are 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers, and women who smoke are 13 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers. And if you think having your cigarette isn't hurting anyone else, think again. Secondhand smoke has been reported to cause as many as 300,000 cases of pneumonia and bronchitis in children up to 18 months of age every year. It also increases the chance of babies dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
While we all have the very best of intentions when it comes to eating healthier, it's really not always that easy when you're on the go. During a particularly busy shift, a lot of nurses, caregivers, medical professional, heck, any shift work, only have minutes to stop. That's only moments to exhale, grab a bite, and then head right back out into the action. The result of this "dine-and-dash" routine is usually a combination of extra calories, unhealthy choices, and an unsatisfied body. In addition, nurses and healthcare workers who smoke often use their breaks as an opportunity to zip out for a quick puff. Imagine using your break time as a time to feed your body, rather than rob your body of health. While giving up smoking and other bad habits may seem like an overwhelming challenge, getting used to some new delicious and healthy coffee break habits really is easier than you think.
One of the first steps in changing your coffee break habits is to get your co-workers involved. It's not unusual for a team environment to develop into a culture of "it's your turn to bring in donuts on Friday." If you have been talking with your co-workers about improving your coffee break habits, here are some tips:
Is it any wonder that in a day to day job that focuses on precision and organization, a lot of nurses, and of course other professional, find themselves feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Balancing both a busy career and busy home life, sometimes while working multiple shifts and midnight shifts, can leave you feeling exhausted. Fortunately there are several small lifestyle changes you can make to help you reestablish balance in your life. Make this Valentines one where you do something for yourself to make every day that much better.
Recognizing Stress
It is a fact that many people see their busy lives as simply that – busy. The fact that they have very little time to relax and decompress at the end of a day almost seems normal. The headaches, the aches and pains, the short temper, loss of memory and focus, all seem to be symptoms that a lot of busy nurses see as a result of living an active life. After all, having a lot to do and juggling a lot tasks is in the nature of any good nurse, right? Well, this may not be the best way to look at things. Recognizing when you are stressed is critical to your health.
The U.S. Department of Labor notes that registered nurses comprise 2.3 million jobs in the healthcare field – the largest, by far. Furthermore, the Department projects that among all occupations in all fields, more nursing opportunities will be created over the next decade than any other. From a distance, things do indeed look quite good for the nursing profession. After all, we’re still living in an era of tremendous job uncertainty and labor market misalignment. It’s nice to know that, based on this promising statistical outlook, nursing is an wise career move for millions of people today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
Yet there is more to this story than rosy statistics; and the nurses reading this article would no doubt criticize any attempt to paint an incomplete picture of what’s really happening in the trenches. Despite the professional and personal satisfaction that comes from applying their considerable skills to help patients heal or face illnesses with dignity, more and more nurses are facing a situation that, by its very term, sends waves of dread through even the most battle-hardened health professional: burnout.
Medical professionals, particularly nurses, spend the majority of every shift on their feet. From checking rooms and patients, taking charts from one area to another, moving equipment and beyond, your feet take a beating each and every day. Ask any person who has spent more than a few hours on their feet and they will tell you clearly – if your feet hurt your entire body will suffer. This is why taking care of your feet is not just important, it is critical to your health.
While you have probably heard of carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist, tarsal tunnel syndrome is actually quite similar. In TTS, the ligaments that run from the ankle to the bottom of the foot become inflamed, irritating the nerve located just behind the ligament. This is often the result of not wearing shoes with proper arch support and good heel stability. The symptoms include tingling, numbness and dull aches. Wearing proper shoes and physiotherapy are often suggested as a first round therapy to help heal Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.
