Brenda F. Johnson MSN

Gastrointestinal Nursing

Gastrointestinal Columnist

All Content by Brenda F. Johnson

  1. If you're drawn to a career that blends advanced clinical expertise with compassionate care for children, becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) may be the perfect path. PNPs play a vital role...
  2. Brenda F. Johnson

    Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: Job Description, Salary, And How to Become One

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in General Nursing

    If you're interested in playing a vital role in promoting the health and well-being of infants, children, and adolescents, consider becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). Whether you're a...
  3. Brenda F. Johnson

    Fecal Disimpaction

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in General Nursing

    Fecal Impaction Overview Fecal impaction occurs when dried and hardened feces cause severe constipation. Impaction can occur at any level of the intestines—rectal, sigmoid, descending,...
  4. Brenda F. Johnson

    Robotic Bronchoscopies: What They Are and How They Will Change the Future for Lung Cancer

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in Pulmonary

    In the past 15 years, the use of EBUS (Endobronchial ultrasound) and Navigation has enabled doctors to do biopsies and needle aspirations of hard-to-reach tumors and lymph nodes in the lungs. In the...
  5. Brenda F. Johnson

    Uterine Cancer in the Early 1900s: An Era Gone By

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in General Specialties

    Sally’s Story Bending over to pick up the spoon she had dropped, Sally felt dizzy, her head spun, and she almost toppled over. Sitting down on the dining room chair, she braced herself between...
  6. Brenda F. Johnson

    Talking About Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: SIBO

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in Gastroenterology

    So many things can happen to our bodies when the bacteria levels are interrupted. Our bodies are protected by what we call good bacteria, but when there is an overgrowth or severe decrease, things get...
  7. Brenda F. Johnson

    Colostomies: Types & Care

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in Gastroenterology

    Indications for a Colostomy There are several reasons that a patient would need to have a colon resection and receive a colostomy. The one that comes to mind first is cancer. If the patient has a...
  8. Brenda F. Johnson

    Colostomies: Types & Care

    Brenda F. Johnson replied to Brenda F. Johnson's topic in Gastroenterology

    Ceci, first off, I'm sorry that you had to go through the surgeries. I hope that all is better with your health. I understand what you are saying about nurses treating nurses. I too had a nurse treat...
  9. Brenda F. Johnson

    Changes in the World of Diverticulitis

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in Gastroenterology

    Diverticulosis: Brief Overview Diverticulosis is the outpouching of the inner mucosa in the GI tract. Most are found in the large colon, specifically the sigmoid area. For more detailed...
  10. Brenda F. Johnson

    Taking the Mystery Out of "Tics" (Diverticulosis)

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in Gastroenterology

    Pathophysiology Diverticulosis is basically outpouches in the colon or weaker areas in the colon wall. In itself, it doesn't cause any problems. These diverticula can be in other parts of the GI...
  11. Brenda F. Johnson

    Covid Delayed Cancer Screenings: How Will it Affect Us Long Term?

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in Disaster Preparation

    It makes sense that patients have put off getting a mammogram, colonoscopy, heart tests, etc. due to the Covid epidemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen many services become limited...
  12. Brenda F. Johnson

    Covid Delayed Cancer Screenings: How Will it Affect Us Long Term?

    Brenda F. Johnson replied to Brenda F. Johnson's topic in Disaster Preparation

    I love your input, and agree with it. The healthcare system is set up for duplication, fraud, and not enough oversight. Thank you for your
  13. Brenda F. Johnson

    Media: Where are the Nurses?

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Most medical shows on television are full of inaccuracies. Surely they could afford to hire someone to provide current and correct information, (such as a nurse). Who hasn't watched a 'Grey's...
  14. Brenda F. Johnson

    Frequent Bathing is Harmful to Health: 17th Century Pilgrims

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in General Nursing

    History of 17th Century Bathing As with many beliefs and ideals of centuries ago, people often based their decisions on religious customs and superstitions. People of all social and economic...
  15. Brenda F. Johnson

    C Diff; Toxin Negative Or Toxin Positive

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in Gastroenterology

    C diff, now called Clostridioides or Clostridioides difficile, is often found in nursing homes or in post-surgical patients after multiple doses of antibiotics1. Antibiotics disrupt the normal gut...
  16. Brenda F. Johnson

    Another Nurse Accused of Homicide for a Mistake!

    Brenda F. Johnson replied to Wishiwasretired's topic in General Nursing

    What about the facilities' responsibility? This is going to start a snowball affect for nurses. Think we have a shortage
  17. Brenda F. Johnson

    Remnants From Colonoscopy

    Brenda F. Johnson replied to adema12's topic in Gastroenterology

    No
  18. Brenda F. Johnson

    Remnants From Colonoscopy

    Brenda F. Johnson replied to adema12's topic in Gastroenterology

    This is a clip used for prevention of bleeding from a biopsy/polypectomy site. It's perfectly normal, no worries. Most of the time people don't see them, you have eagle eye. They pinch the tissue...
  19. Brenda F. Johnson

    Colon Cancer Survival: Kate's Story

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in Gastroenterology

    Kate's Story Life will throw us curveballs, that's a guarantee. How we face up to these events is evidence of our character. I am so humbled and stirred by the life story that I'm going to share...
  20. Brenda F. Johnson

    March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month - Wear Your Blue Ribbon

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in Gastroenterology

    Increased Rates in Younger People Colon cancer rates have decreased over the past years in the older demographic because of increased screenings. However, there has been an upward trend in younger...
  21. Brenda F. Johnson

    Microvascular Thrombosis in the Bowel: Is There a Covid Connection?

    Brenda F. Johnson posted a topic in Disaster Preparation

    The past two years have changed our world in many ways. We have seen unsuspecting patients, family, and friends get sick, and sometimes die from Covid. The long-term effects of this virus have yet to...
  22. Brenda F. Johnson

    Microvascular Thrombosis in the Bowel: Is There a Covid Connection?

    Brenda F. Johnson replied to Brenda F. Johnson's topic in Disaster Preparation

    That's very interesting, I'll look into
  23. Brenda F. Johnson

    March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month - Wear Your Blue Ribbon

    Brenda F. Johnson replied to Brenda F. Johnson's topic in Gastroenterology

    I'm so glad everything turned out
  24. Brenda F. Johnson

    March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month - Wear Your Blue Ribbon

    Brenda F. Johnson replied to Brenda F. Johnson's topic in Gastroenterology

    Thank you for sharing! Good luck with your event. Let us know how it
  25. Brenda F. Johnson

    March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month - Wear Your Blue Ribbon

    Brenda F. Johnson replied to Brenda F. Johnson's topic in Gastroenterology

    How was your colonoscopy? I hope everything went