Pushing drugs for the Man bother anyone?

[somebody]

Hello All.

I'm a newbie taking prereqs for a BSN.

I just have one big nagging concern keeping me from fully committing to the program. I want to help people, but I feel that the western allopathic way of surgery/drugs is often very harmful (although sometimes needed in cases of trauma etc).

Does pushing drugs for the giant pharmaceuticals bother anyone out there in the nurse world? I just don't know if I could live with myself doing it all day when I know that many problems could be solved simply by diet change etc.

Please enlighten me!

[Diahni]

Witchy, Somebody and Everybody,

What a bunch of interesting folks here! Why don't I work with ya'll? That said, I saw SICKO last night. Anybody else see it? (speaking of "The Man" - ha!) I think he's basically right about HMOs, vs. the way other countries take care of people, but the message is a little sugar coated. The French system seems like a dream come true, but I have a friend who died in Paris waiting for surgery because every doctor in the country was on vacation. They seem to have more vacation days in France than work days. But filmmakers have a right to hyperbole. It seems so wrong that people, especially old folks, should have to go bankrupt because of health care. In fact, high medical bills is the number one reason for bankruptcy in the US. Anyway, Sicko is a provocative movie for anybody in health care.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I am living proof that exercise (and diet) can indeed effectively replace drugs. I was severly chronically depressed :ofor years and was on several antidepressants (not concurrantly). They helped, but the side effects were really bad.

somebody, you are living proof that diet and exercise worked for your depression and anxiety.

I am going to be buried with a vial of my SSRI du jour in clenched in my sweaty palm. What you are describing does not work for me, although I do exercise and incorporate yoga into my life.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

CardiacRN, yeah, you got 'em after all the burgers, too much tv, no exercise. Some people are unlucky and get sick anyway, but many of us have to eat the carrots and walk so we don't end up on your table!

Actually, I have seen MANY healthy people in my ICU. You know why?

Because sickness and illnesses happen.

You don't always get to wish it away, or rely on organic nuts and free range chicken to prevent these things.

Healthy, organic eating, exercising people still get sick-and need MEDICATIONS.

I'm glad that you think because it worked for you then it must work for everyone. It's a little naive, to be sure. Not everyone is you, and not every treatment works the same on everyone.

But the OT was "in nursing, pushing drugs, don't like...".

In my area of nursing, along with the majority of other areas, it's too late for the eat better and exercise lecture.

It's time to start healing.

And yes, Healthy people DO still suffer from Heart disease, diabetes and strokes. Things we think will go away if we are healthy.

Because this body of mine was not made perfectly. I don't know what lies in my DNA. I don't know what the future holds in store for me.

But I am thankful that if I ever need to to to the ED or ICU, or med-surg, that we will work on treating my illness, and save the "you should have treated yourself better" lecture for some other more appropriate time.

[ERRNTraveler, RN]

I don't have children yet, but when I do, you can bet there will be large amounts of drugs involved in my labor... I respect people's decision to do it naturally, but, for me, I'm sure I'll be irritating my L&D nurse asking "can I have the epidural yet???" Better living through pharmaceuticals..... :)

[EmmaG, RN]

I don't have children yet, but when I do, you can bet there will be large amounts of drugs involved in my labor... I respect people's decision to do it naturally, but, for me, I'm sure I'll be irritating my L&D nurse asking "can I have the epidural yet???" Better living through pharmaceuticals..... :)

I can honestly say with my first I had no pain beyond a minor backache (those I had with my periods were far worse). I had been taken in on 3 occasions to induce, and the pit kept getting increased but nothing happened. Until... lol. I went from nothing to fully dilated within a couple of hours. After laying on my back on that stretcher for over 12 hours, I figured that was why my back ached, so I tried to roll on my side. Nurse Ratched came in hollering at me to stay on my back so the monitor would read right. So I went back to playing solitaire on my tummy.

Now, with the second baby... whoa. Abruption with tonic contraction. Doc came in and asked, "Don't you know LaMaze???"

I tried to kick him, but missed.

BTW, Demerol is a wonderful thing.

[Almabella]

I don't quite understand all of the volatile responses to the OP's question. S/he clearly states that there is a time and place for the use of pharmaceuticals -- no on is denying that.

Let's be honest here. We live in a quick fix, fast food nation. Everyone wants a pill for their problems, be it obesity, lack of energy, or the sniffles. We all know that overuse of antibiotics has lead to a very real and very big problem: resistant strains of bacteria. This is because of the overuse of pharmaceuticals in situations where it is not warranted.

This is not to say that pharmaceuticals are never necessary. But there are instances when diet, exercise and stress management or some other "natural" remedy can be just as beneficial, perhaps more so, than just popping a pill.

Here's a prime example. The other day I had a patient call saying she wanted a pill, reglan, to increase her breastmilk supply. In the same breath, she said she was supplementing with formula so her baby wouldn't be hungry, yet her desire is to exclusively breastfeed for a full 12 months. So, instead of just scheduling her with the MD (who, in a rush to get the patient out of the door in less than 15 minutes would probably just give her the Rx), I felt some education was called for. After providing some over the phone education, I then scheduled her with our lactation consultant.

There are scenarios in nursing practice where patient education and "natural" remedies can solve patient problems. Again, this is why I love community/public health. I also believe, as a nurse, that there is a huge lack of focus on prevention in this country and I hope to see that change in the future....

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I don't quite understand all of the volatile responses to the OP's question. S/he clearly states that there is a time and place for the use of pharmaceuticals -- no on is denying that.

Let's be honest here. We live in a quick fix, fast food nation. Everyone wants a pill for their problems, be it obesity, lack of energy, or the sniffles. We all know that overuse of antibiotics has lead to a very real and very big problem: resistant strains of bacteria. This is because of the overuse of pharmaceuticals in situations where it is not warranted.

This is not to say that pharmaceuticals are never necessary. But there are instances when diet, exercise and stress management or some other "natural" remedy can be just as beneficial, perhaps more so, than just popping a pill.

Here's a prime example. The other day I had a patient call saying she wanted a pill, reglan, to increase her breastmilk supply. In the same breath, she said she was supplementing with formula so her baby wouldn't be hungry, yet her desire is to exclusively breastfeed for a full 12 months. So, instead of just scheduling her with the MD (who, in a rush to get the patient out of the door in less than 15 minutes would probably just give her the Rx), I felt some education was called for. After providing some over the phone education, I then scheduled her with our lactation consultant.

There are scenarios in nursing practice where patient education and "natural" remedies can solve patient problems. Again, this is why I love community/public health. I also believe, as a nurse, that there is a huge lack of focus on prevention in this country and I hope to see that change in the future....

I think the "volatile' reactions to the OP were a result of the tone of the original post...even the title is a little confrontational. Also, in a later post, he/she says that those of us who don't mind the freebies are being played, and seems to imply that we don't know any better. Myself, I detected the slightest air of condescension. I have known people that are into the whole natural "medicine" scene(put it in quotes because in my opinion, much of it has little to do with health) and some of them are extremely judgemental of anyone who takes meds, has surgery, or advocates vaccination. Not saying the OP is like this, but the tone of the post had me wondering. Just my 2 cents.

[EmmaG, RN]

The title had me LMAO. That's why my response was a bit facetious.

The Man

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

The title had me LMAO. That's why my response was a bit facetious.

The Man

Well, I can't get behind that at all. Can't dig where she's coming from.

*snort*

Sorry. If you want to have a serious discussion with me, please refrain from silly, disparaging slang terms in the very title.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

somebody, you are living proof that diet and exercise worked for your depression and anxiety.

I am going to be buried with a vial of my SSRI du jour in clenched in my sweaty palm. What you are describing does not work for me, although I do exercise and incorporate yoga into my life.

As you point out, I think here is to respect and treat everyone as individuals. Some can manage with alternative treatments alone, some can not. Others of us need a combination of the two.

I managed got off antidepressants myself and know that diet and exercise play a part in keeping me off. Right now I'm borderline HTN and before I run to the doc for medication, I'm going to try a few things first. Luckily as a result I haven't sustained a treatable BP. But if and when it is sustained despite my natural efforts I'll take the medication, and more than likely will have to stay on it for life. No shame in that.

The shame is persons who aren't willing to take a bit of responsibility for their health, physical and mental.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Responding to the labor pain issue . . . . . I had 3 "natural" deliveries with a Demerol shot towards the end in #2 and #3 which did absolutely nothing at all except make me a zombie in between very painful contractions . . so for me, Demerol is hooey.

I asked my doc when I found out I was preggers with #4 if I could get an epidural at 2 cm. I was not kidding. I did get one and it was heaven.

As to the op - I agree that the title is a crack up.

And I don't "push" drugs for the Man.

Almabella - I love your teaching response to the woman wanting Reglan!

steph

[Almabella]

Ok, maybe the title was a little silly, but I didn't find the wording of the original question offensive or condescending...I think it's a valid question and concern coming from a pre nursing student. Plus I don't want to scare a newbie off. JMHO.