I don't do it often, but sometimes I'll hear something interesting and decide to do a little research on it.....I came across something called "Pfiffer's Synrome" (sp) where infants have a premature hardening of the skull, and evidently this can start prenatally very early.

Some of these things are so disturbing...it was literally the worst defect I have ever seen of an infant in a picture...

...it's a good education..but some things you just pray you'll never actually have to witness.

Yes, Hoperull2009, :balloons:

I look up random diseases/conditions all of the time! Whenever I become aware of something new on TV, radio, or in a newspaper, via the internet, a magazine article, or a personal discussion with other nurses; I research it further. I consider it part of my continued education in nsg.

Best of Luck to you in 20009!

Nurse Smiley

I am no longer a nursing student but I can assure you that even the seasoned nurse comes across those bizzar-o diseases that you only hear about on the Discovery Health Channel. We look things up all the time! Its part of what I love about being a nurse...the learning never ends!!

Keep up all the hard work. The reward will be worth it!

I totally ditto what the other posters said! I've been an RN for a long time and I look up diseases, new meds, new treatments, etc. all the time. Thank goodness for the internet! (It wasn't around when I went to nursing school......)

Nursing and medicine in general is a dynamic changing field and you will never stop learning! :)

I do, too...the two most recent and fascinating ones I've found are

malignant hypothermia

http://www.anes.ucla.edu/dept/mh.html

and harlequin ichthyosis

http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijpn/vol2n1/harlequin.xml

just a warning...the harlequin link has pics, and they are very disturbing. This is a congenital skin disorder that never has a good outcome for the newborn.

I do, too...the two most recent and fascinating ones I've found are

malignant hypothermia

http://www.anes.ucla.edu/dept/mh.html

and harlequin ichthyosis

http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijpn/vol2n1/harlequin.xml

just a warning...the harlequin link has pics, and they are very disturbing. This is a congenital skin disorder that never has a good outcome for the newborn.

Malignant Hyperthermia is very uncommon yet so familiar to me. I have a strong family history of MH and tested positive as an infant. Luckily I myself have never needed surgery and wasn't sure what COULD be given to the patient with MH if surgery was required. Well, I asked the CRNA this durig my observation in the OR and was promptly removed. They said it was best if I wasn't even on the unit at all because the gases can leak. I guess I never thought about that, because I wasn't getting the anesthetic. But now I know!!!

I always look up stuff about my patients to help me with my job. Whenever I come across something that catches my interest, I'll spend some time reading about that also. Otherwise, I spend time here. Have found lots of info about conditions/situations here and learned plenty from others on this site.

i got my drug guide a week or so ago and i've been looking up every med i take or anyone else i know takes, and anything i see on tv...

i think i'm already driving my bf nuts :)

I do, too...the two most recent and fascinating ones I've found are

malignant hypothermia

http://www.anes.ucla.edu/dept/mh.html

and harlequin ichthyosis

http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijpn/vol2n1/harlequin.xml

just a warning...the harlequin link has pics, and they are very disturbing. This is a congenital skin disorder that never has a good outcome for the newborn.

That's interesting -both my mom and I have malignant hypothermia and I never really researched it in depth until nursing school.

That's interesting -both my mom and I have malignant hypothermia and I never really researched it in depth until nursing school.

I forgot to add that yes, I find myself looking up tons of diseases and conditions since I've started nursing school and especially after clinical rotations. Yesterday I had a patient with severe cellulitis and a two stage 3 pressure ulcers. I was so interested in what cellulitis is and how it is caused that I looked it up once I got home.

Yes I do. I always wonder what someone would think lol if they looked at my computer "history" and didn't know I'm a nurse!

Yes I do. I always wonder what someone would think lol if they looked at my computer "history" and didn't know I'm a nurse!

I do it too. My mom watched medical shows as long as I can remember, so I was always seeing and learning about these rare disorders and diseases from an early age. I'm a big fan Discovery Health now, as was my mom. I google everything I'm unfamiliar with and I'm always on the NORD website looking around. Those diseases fascinate me. Just to get a feeling for exactly how much can go wrong with the human body...wow. I guess I'm just in awe of the complexities involved.

Ive been in the medical field for 30 years and to this day ,I study and research diseases and disorders.Im smart but cant remember everything!I love to learn about diseases and disorders.