by Howard Gerber on August 9, 2011
Many areas of the country are experiencing record high temperatures and heat waves, which have coincided with lack of rain making this one of the hottest summers in recent memory. This means that more people will be suffering from heat exhaustion and heat stroke than ever before. Your patients may come in feeling ill without realizing it is due to the heat and professionals who are used to pushing themselves for their patients may inadvertently overdue their efforts and make themselves ill. [continue reading…]
by Howard Gerber on July 19, 2011
July is UV Safety Month, an appropriate time as most of the nation is focused on getting outside to enjoy the sun. With new guidelines about sunscreen issued from the FDA it is more important than ever that everyone work together to make sure the public is well informed about the necessity of sun protection and exactly how to best protect themselves and their family.
Pharmacists
Make a sunscreen display to show customers the new recommendations by the FDA. A chart format or a Q&A format are good choices because they can easily be skimmed and will force you to break the information into more manageable pieces that consumers will be more likely to understand. This is also an excellent place to move your sunscreen selection to for the month of July. Next to the display of sunscreens, provide easy to understand definitions about the claims the sunscreens make such as waterproof, water resistant, broad spectrum, and what SPF actually means. Brochures that clients can take with them with the new information could also be included with each purchase.
Nurses
Nurses and doctors can devote some of their bulletin board space this month to UV Safety with a focus on their specialty. Pediatric offices can display what children and infants need, dermatology offices can discuss the warning signs of too much UV exposure, and ophthalmologists’ offices can show the dangers UV radiation poses to eyesight and how to best protect your eyes.
Teachers
Although most schools close for the summer, they don’t always close completely. Summer programs, summer school, and summer training or extracurricular activities may still be in full force. Take time at the beginning of the month to show students exactly how much sunscreen should be applied and how often it should be reapplied. Physically taking the time to show them what an ounce of sunscreen looks like will be much more beneficial to students than simply discussing the new guidelines.
Therapists
Many physical and occupational therapists recommend aquatic exercises to supplement therapy session, some even provide aquatic services. If you recommend patients to swim or to complete exercises in the water be sure you talk to them this month about the importance of properly using sunscreen. The FDA has said sunscreens will not be able to claim to be waterproof in the future. Make sure your patients know they need to reapply sunscreen every 40 to 80 minutes (depending on the type they use) if they are in the water or sweating.
How do you plan to make your patients more aware of the dangers of UV radiation? Do you recommend specific sunscreens or products that limit UV exposure? What do you think of the new FDA guidelines for sunscreens?
by Howard Gerber on June 14, 2011
Government forecasters expect up to six major hurricanes for the Atlantic storm season which began on June 1. The effects of hurricanes range from mildly annoying to utterly devastating. While many government and nonprofit sites have excellent general preparedness advice, there are certain things that are only applicable to specific populations. Use your connection to these populations to reinforce the need for people to prepare for the specifics of their own circumstances. [continue reading…]
by Howard Gerber on April 26, 2011
As a nurse, you are usually tending to patients, assisting physicians, and answering questions from family members. However, you also have responsibilities that have nothing to do with your patients. You may be attending continuing education classes, responsible for the monthly calendar, make a weekly newsletter for your unit, or be required to complete any number of tasks that require creative thinking and publication. One way to add focal interest to your creative endeavors is with clip art. Finding nursing and medical clip art is just one more way you probably don’t want to spend your time or energy. To make your life easier we have compiled a list of some of the best free nursing and medical clip art sources available online. [continue reading…]
by Howard Gerber on February 7, 2011
The first week of February was Patient Recognition Week. While February is usually reserved for showing those who are close to us how much we love them, this first week is a great time to show all of your patients just how much it means that they choose to entrust themselves to you. You can even incorporate much of the themed Valentine’s Day or Mardi Gras decorations, if you want, to make decorating and expressing your appreciation that much easier. [continue reading…]
by Howard Gerber on January 18, 2011
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), a personality disorder can be defined as being a pattern of behaviors and experiences that are different from the individual’s cultural experiences. Personality disorders are broken down into three main categories, each of which has subcategories. Cluster A personality disorders include eccentric or odd disorders. Cluster B personality disorders include emotional, dramatic, or erratic disorders. Cluster C personality disorders include anxiety and fear disorders. [continue reading…]
by Howard Gerber on December 20, 2010
The definition of a personality disorder, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is a pattern of inner experiences and behaviors that differ from the cultural experiences of the individual. There are three primary personality disorder clusters. Cluster A includes odd or eccentric disorders. Cluster B includes dramatic, emotional, or erratic disorders. Cluster C includes fear and anxiety disorders. The biggest difference between other mental health problems and personality disorders, which may appear quite similar on the surface, is that symptoms resulting from a personality disorder cannot be changed with negative consequences or with medications. The only way to help a patient with a personality disorder is through therapy, which may allow the patient to see that his or her behavior is unacceptable to society as a whole and encourage the patient to find other, more socially acceptable, ways to express themselves. [continue reading…]