The Geriatric Journal

from Angie O'Plasty, RN - Proper positioning of a patient in pain has nearly become a lost art with the advent of patient-controlled analgesia and the focus on pain as the 5th vital sign. However, proper positioning, used as an adjunct to appropriate analgesics, can often help elderly patients find an acceptable level of pain relief. Most nurses and CNAs have been...

from Angie O'Plasty, RN - There are some tools that have been around for a long time, but are rarely used because Medicare or Medicaid will not pay for them. Transfer boards, also called slide boards, fit into this category. When I asked why they were not covered by Medicare or Medicaid, I was told that a sliding board is a tool that helps the caregiver ‘s back more than...