Low levels of Vitamin D

So I went to the doctor yesterday and she recommended me getting tested for my levels of Vitamin D. She said #1 because its winter time and #2 because I work third shift. Well, the test came back and I was super low so thank goodness she wanted to check. So today Im going to post one of the articles I found on Vitamin D deficiency There are many out there so look around and if you do shift work or live in a cold climate during the winter, you might want to get checked.
vitamin-d-deficiency

Fascinating Facts You Never Knew About the Human Brain

1. Weight. The weight of the human brain is about 3 lbs.
2. Cerebrum. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and makes up 85% of the brain’s weight.
3. Skin. Your skin weighs twice as much as your brain.
4. Gray matter. The brain’s gray matter is made up of neurons, which gather and transmit signals.
5. White matter. The white matter is made up of dendrites and axons, which create the network by which neurons send their signals.
6. Gray and white. Your brain is 60% white matter and 40% gray matter.
7. Water. The brain is made up of about 75% water.
8. Neurons. Your brain consists of about 100 billion neurons.
9. Synapses. There are anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 synapses for each neuron.
10. No pain. There are no pain receptors in the brain, so the brain can feel no pain.
11. Largest brain. While an elephant’s brain is physically larger than a human brain, the human brain is 2% of total body weight (compared to 0.15% of an elephant’s brain), meaning humans have the largest brain to body size.
12. Blood vessels. There are 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the brain.
13. Fat. The human brain is the fattest organ in the body and may consists of at least 60% fat.

A NURSING AIDES JOB DESCRIPTION

Someone suggested putting up this article on the the Nursing Aide job description....will do with pleasure! Thanks for the suggestion! :)Job purpose of Nurse assistant are to performs any combination of following duties in care of patients in hospital, nursing home, or other medical facility, under direction of nursing and medical staff:

Key duties of Nurse assistant:

1. Turns and repositions bedfast patients, alone or with assistance, to prevent bedsores.
2. Changes bed linens, runs errands, directs visitors, and answers telephone.
3. Takes and records temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates, and food and fluid intake and output, as directed.
4. Cleans, sterilizes, stores, prepares, and issues dressing packs, treatment trays, and other supplies.
5. Answers signal lights, bells, or intercom system to determine patients’ needs.
6. Bathes, dresses, and undresses patients.
7. Serves and collects food trays and feeds patients requiring help.
8. Transports patients, using wheelchair or wheeled cart, or assists patients to walk.
9. Drapes patients for examinations and treatments, and remains with patients, performing such duties as holding instruments and adjusting lights.
10. Dusts and cleans patients’ rooms.
11. May be assigned to specific area of hospital, nursing home, or medical facility.
12. May assist nursing staff in care of geriatric patients and be designated Geriatric Nurse Assistant.

A NURSING AIDES NEW YEAR RESOLUTION!

  Well, with only hours left until we ring in the new year, Id like to suggest some new years resolutions for nursing aides everywhere!

1:  Take care of your self physically. Take meal breaks and bring snacks. Stay as hydrated as an athlete.

2: Laugh every day.

3: Go to a day spa at least twice during the year to treat yourself. You deserve it.!!!

Getting ready for Christmas!

Wishing all my fellow LNA's and CNA's a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year!!!!

The Benefits Of A Support Group For CNAs

No man is an island as the saying goes. As you will discover from completing a CNA training class, the certification exam and beginning work as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), being a CNA may be fulfilling work but it is also challenging and you will need all the support you can get to help you successfully work and thrive as a CNA. Like many other jobs, working as a nursing assistant can have days when you feel frustrated and overly stressed and ready to call it quits.
Having a support system is one of the great ways to help you deal with and manage the stress and frustration that comes with the job. While your friends and family may be supportive, only people who face what you deal with on a daily basis can truly understand what you are going through and offer the support you need.

The Challenges of Being A CNA

Some of the challenges of being a nursing aide may be covered in a CNA training class and include but are not limited to;

• Understaffed care facilities
• Too much to do, too little time
• Dealing with various patients as well as dealing with patient abuse in some cases
• Problems with other staff members
• Dealing with patient death
• Feeling that the pay is not commensurate with the duties required
• Finding time to take care of yourself while taking care of others, etc.

All these challenges can take a toll on anyone and this can lead to burnout and no longer finding any joy or sense of fulfillment from being a CNA. The challenges can drain you both mentally as well as physically.

A Support Group Can Be a Great Help

When you face these various challenges on the job, not knowing where to turn to or who to talk to about what you’re facing can be tough which is were a support group comes in to the rescue. A good support group will help you “vent” with like minded people who know what you are struggling with and can offer not only support but suggestions on how to deal with the various challenges you will encounter on the job. A support group can also be a medium to share not only your challenges on the job but also the successes you have.
If there are no support groups for nursing assistants in your area, simply create one. If you are struggling on the job, you can be certain that there are others just like you who are struggling and are looking for a solution or simply support. Simply put up a flier at your workplace for those who are interested in starting a support group for nursing assistants to come to a meeting. Although you should discuss the reasons for wanting to start this group with the HR department at your workplace before putting up this flier, most employers will support this initiative.
For the group to be a success, you need to establish ground rules so that the meetings do not simply become a venue to complain with the attendants leaving the same way that they came. While letting out the various frustrations of the job may be cathartic, being able to generate solutions to make the job more manageable will make the support group more beneficial to the nursing assistants who attend.
Determine where and how often you shall meet. If the members of the support group all work at the same facility, you can meet in a conference room or one of the rooms at the facility. If the members are from various facilities you can choose a central location or rotate the meeting place from one facility to the next. Many libraries or churches frequently allow various groups to meet. The support group can meet monthly, weekly, etc. You can create an agenda for each meeting or simply allow members to discuss what is on their minds while ensuring the control is still maintained.

Online Support Groups For Nursing Assistants

The popularity of support groups for nursing assistants keeps increasing daily. From discussing the challenges of a CNA training class, the certification exam, to the challenges on the job, these online support groups provide the support needed. One can visit the online discussion groups anytime without needing a location or time to meet and they cover a multitude of topics, more than you can ever think or imagine.
You can pick whatever topic and discussion group interests you and not waste time with topics or groups that do not interest you. You will get to discuss issues with nursing assistants from all over the country and world working at various types of facilities. This will help you to find various solutions for the struggles that you encounter on the job. You can also post questions and ask for advice.
Job related stress is especially damaging on one’s health and having a support group to help you deal with stress and other job related struggles will help you navigate the turbulent waters of being a CNA. Support groups will also help you deal with various aspects of being a CNA such as a CNA training class, the certification exam, etc, and help you with finding solutions for your problems. It is also a great, supportive environment to share your successes on the job.

Skin Care for the Elderly

Bathing

• In many long term care nursing facilities, elderly patients are assigned one or two days a week for a bath or shower, and are washed up in their rooms twice a day on the days in between. The skin of an elderly patient does not contain as much oil as it once did, though, and therefore the temperature of the water should be warm rather than hot; if it's too warm, any oil left in their skin can be washed away, leaving their skin more susceptible to breaking open, which can lead to infection.
  You should also use a mild soap when washing them; this is not as harsh on their skin and helps prevent it from becoming dry. Some patients require the use of special soaps and shampoo  such as Nizoral; this is made especially for those who suffer from specific skin conditions such as eczema.

• Moisturize

  • Due to the loss of natural oils in the skin, it is necessary to apply lotion after a bath and multiple times through the day. When an elder's skin becomes dry, it begins to itch. The more he scratches, the more likely his skin is to break open, leaving room for bacteria to move in and infection to take place. Using a moisturizer regularly helps reduce the itchiness, thus reducing the likelihood of infection.

  
  
  

  Observe and Report

  • As you are providing skin care, you need to be observant of any changes in your patient's skin. From moles that have changed shape to a new area that has broken down and torn apart, it all needs to be reported immediately. The sooner she receives treatment for her condition, the better her chances are for a complete recovery.

  
  
  Read more: Skin Care for the Elderly | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5484310_skin-care-elderly.html#ixzz1ewIgcxhM