PCU_RN9
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All Content by PCU_RN9
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Same here
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This was a great article/interview to read!
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Are there any nurse entrepreneurs on here? If so, what type of business did you build utilizing your nursing background? ( I thought at one time there was a specific area for nurse entrepreneurs, but I can’t seem to locate it tonight)
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I know you got a 100% on your exam, Bob, but I think you’ve let it go to your head.
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30 years old. RN 10 years
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It looks like we’ll be supporting local business by ordering take out again tonight
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Emergency room exam rooms are particularly terrifying when you are seven years old. Don’t worry, I’m not here because of me, I’m here because my grandpa is very ill. My grandpa spends a great deal of time in and out of the hospital. He is what the nurses and doctors call a “frequent flyer.” When he isn’t in the hospital, he lives at home with my mother and me. Ever since I can remember, my grandpa has been sick. He has diabetes, colon cancer, heart problems, lung problems, high blood pressure, just to name a few. I used to be really scared of all of the beeping machines, alarms, and the serious looking staff in the hospital. That all changed the day I met a nurse named Clara. Clara was the ER nurse assigned to take care of my grandpa who was brought to the hospital because he was having some trouble breathing. When my grandpa was sent off for testing Clara took me aside and showed me how all the cool hospital gadgets worked and even introduced to some of her nurse and doctor friends. I decided that day that Clara was a superhero and one day I would be a superhero like her. I didn’t know it at the time, but my family and I would develop a bond with Clara over the course of the next few years. You could tell just by looking at Clara that she was a nurse who was enthusiastic about her job and loved helping others. My grandfather was not an easy patient by any stretch of the imagination and at times could even be belligerent. My grandfather did not get along well with most staff members, but he got along with Clara. Clara was a seasoned nurse. Not only did she take excellent care of my grandfather, she was witty and turned his anger and fear into smiles and laughs. As stated by Arthur Ashe, ‘true heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.’ I believe this quote is a great description of a hero. Is a hero someone who performs a grand act of bravery, such as sprinting into a burning house to save someone while risking their own life? Of course, and that’s what we often see on television shows and in the movies but there is more than one way to define a hero. To me, a hero is a humanitarian who is compassionate, caring, and goes above and beyond the call of duty with nothing to gain. In this definition, Clara was a true hero. Trips to the emergency room were as common as rain in Seattle. Often times, nobody was readily available to watch me, so I tagged along for many of the emergency room trips. My grandfather was a WWII veteran with a very rough exterior that not many people were able to break through. Clara was one of the few people who was able to turn his harsh demeanor to laughs and smiles. Clara performed her nursing duties with skill and competence, always explaining what to expect. On slower shifts, Clara spent time with me demonstrating how to use equipment such as the stethoscope, blood pressure machine, and heart monitor. By this point, I decided I definitely wanted to be a nurse. Thinking out of the box, Clara knew my grandfather was an uncontrolled type II diabetic who didn’t check his glucose levels often enough. Clara advised me to remind my grandfather to check his glucose levels so I could help him become healthier. I took this notion to heart. I began helping my grandfather check his glucose levels and documenting his numbers. I was taught what normal glucose levels were and reminded him to eat healthier meals when he went to eat foods such as doughnuts. Because my grandfather saw how serious I took this, he began watching his diet and overtime his glucose levels became more controlled. Because of Clara, emergency room visits became a little less scary for my family. Because of Clara, I learned that nurses have the power to improve people’s lives. Because of Clara, I learned that compassion goes a long way. Because of Clara, I knew at a young age that I wanted to become a nurse so that I, too, could help improve the quality of life of others, all while putting a smile on their face.
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I know this is several years old now, but have you embarked on the career of medical writer? If so, do you have any tips? I'm currently in an MSN/MBA program and I've just completed the MSN aspect.
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Thank you! I actually just finished the MSN part and begin the MBA part in about 3 weeks. Best of luck to you!
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The virtual age of healthcare is upon us. I believe 2020 will be the groundbreaking year for telemedicine. Now, virtual medicine is not new. This technology has been around for several years, but the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has shaken up and altered the healthcare system in unprecedented ways. Let’s face it. The world is changing all around us. When I was growing up (which doesn’t feel like all that long ago), my friends and I played hide and seek, it-tag, and kickball in our free time. As teenagers, we spent time hanging out at the local shopping malls and spent evenings at bonfires. These days, children and teenagers spend hours on apps such as Tik-Tok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter, to name a few. Ordering food and having it delivered is as easy as downloading an app, choosing a meal, and clicking “submit.” Buying items from books, to clothing, to household goods, can be also be completed by simply using your phone or computer. Even all of my courses for my MSN/ MBA degree are virtual! At some point, healthcare had to jump on board. That time is now! Is telemedicine appropriate?Telemedicine certainly has pros and cons. When I began working as a nurse case manager for an insurance company, I was hesitant to advise customers to use virtual doctor visits for symptoms/ailments, a benefit available for many customers. After all, how is a doctor going to diagnose pneumonia without listening to the patient’s lungs or getting a chest x-ray? How well can a doctor determine that a patient has strep throat without actually looking at their throat or performing a throat culture? Maybe that sore throat is just a viral infection and unnecessarily prescribing antibiotics is compounding antibiotic resistance. ProsTelemedicine can be quite helpful as long as the practitioner has sufficient experience. While diagnosing over the phone/computer can pose a challenge, many conditions often present in a typical fashion. If the practitioner knows the right questions to ask, diagnosing can be simple with many straightforward conditions. CostThe cost of medical care today is astronomical. Many health plans have switched to high deductible plans. This means that patients pay out of pocket until a deductible of $4,000 or even as high as $6,000 has been met. Using telemedicine is a more cost-effective option for those who do not have the funds to pay for standard office or urgent care visits. ConvenienceThis is extremely important. Everybody always seems to be busy and on the go these days. Telemedicine provides convenient access to care. Instead of wasting half of the day going to a doctor’s appointment, why not call a doctor on the phone on your lunch break, then pick up your prescribed medication on the way home? AvailabilityA frequent complaint I hear in my position as an insurance company case manager is the lack of availability of appointments. Wait times for doctor/NP/PA appointments can be days, weeks, and even months depending on the specialty and area of the country one resides in. This is not practical if an individual is experiencing acute symptoms. Telemedicine offers an option for immediate care in these situations. Also, telemedicine can be especially useful for those who live in rural areas or those who do not have transportation to traditional doctor visits. ConsIt is possible to misdiagnoseEven the best practitioners can misdiagnose when typical evaluation methods are not possible. This can lead to follow up virtual visits or a trip to the doctor’s or urgent care center for further evaluation. Not all symptoms are appropriate for telemedicineI have had customers try to use telemedicine for symptoms such as black tarry stools, right lower quadrant pain, or symptoms consistent with pyelonephritis. As healthcare providers, we can help educate patients on when telemedicine services are appropriate and when in person care is warranted. Not all specialties participate in telemedicineVirtual medicine is ever-changing and I believe this will change, but currently, some specialties do not use telehealth services (for the most part) which can hinder a patient from seeking care at the onset of symptoms. Recommendations for healthcare professionalsOver the next few years, the demand for virtual medicine is going to evolve and skyrocket. We are on the brink of major changes in healthcare at this time. It is imperative for healthcare professionals to stay abreast of the changes so they can provide the best care to patients. What exactly does this mean for nurses and other healthcare professionals? Perhaps incorporating virtual evaluation courses into the curriculum for health care professionals. With an increased push to outpatient care, perhaps virtual nursing visits will also become more mainstream. What do you think lies ahead for telemedicine/ telehealth services and how will nurses at all levels play a role?
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Hi there! I was thinking more so from the patient side when I made this post.
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What are some of the most prevalent barriers to accessing care that you’ve seen as a nurse?
