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Child healthcare has come a long way and pediatrics has become a complex branch of medicine involving interdisciplinary studies of physiology, psychology, and advanced diagnosis and treatments. Further, the evolving modern healthcare landscape requires medical professionals to stay updated and current with the latest developments in the field. Thus, Continuing Medical Education (CME) evolved as a system for doctors and medical professionals to learn, network, and grow to serve the patient community better. The three-day 2024 MAPS Fall conference, starting on September 5th, 2024 at DoubleTree Scottsdale, Arizona, is a perfect opportunity for medical professionals to augment their learning, reach, and professional growth.

I may or may not have done something like this before. I will not confirm or deny.

@heavyhitterheaux

Ree, my nurse bestie will understand…

The media/government will try to villainise us.

Over the past few years nurses have had pay rises which have not matched the rate of inflation at all. Our staffing has been decreasing by people becoming burnt out and unable to cope with the demands. Especially post COVID.

The Tories cut the student bursary causing uni applications to fall & brexit affected nurses coming from overseas.

Oh and those 50,000 nurses Boris promised us included 19,000 nurses we already had. And even then they failed on that with 500 nurses leaving the profession every week.

We know the NHS isn’t great. But that’s because it’s severely underfunded and over abused. And like every great idea the execution needs to be done right. And they don’t want to do it right because that would take money out of their mates pockets.

So they’ll shift focus. The money going to their mates in private companies & the pay rises MPs get will be forgotten as they tell you all about those greedy nurses who were offered 4.5% and still not happy!

And they’ll try and convince you that if we do strike we’re horrible people just out for the money. We’re not.

Do you think any MP would be doing it if the highest salary they got is £30k? I don’t.

And don’t worry they’ll target nurses too. They’ll use the fact that we don’t want to put our patients in danger to make us doubt whether we should be striking.

They guilt trip us into thinking about what will happen if we don’t go into work even for one day. Doris will miss her chemo! Dave’s operation will be cancelled again.

But Doris & Dave deserve better. They deserve a nurse that’s not working 50 hour weeks to cover the cost of living. They deserve a nurse that isn’t looking after 14 other patients because theyre short staffed again. They deserve a nurse who isn’t burnt out and hating their job but can’t leave because they need the little money they get. They deserve a nurse who doesn’t have to feed her kids from a food bank.

We all deserve better.

When a tone-deaf management leaves you love notes in the locker room……

Pediatric CME training also helps pediatricians learn about the latest best practices and adapt to new technologies and treatment methodologies. Most CME conferences offer hands-on workshops and courses where doctors can learn to effectively use new medical devices and technologies, that would help them better treat their patients. They also get the opportunity to learn from more experienced senior colleagues who can help them navigate complicated cases and medical procedures.

Albinism is a fairly rare occurrence, so if you ever have a patient that has this condition, it would be convenient to be familiar with it.  

Albinism is an inherited genetic condition. It drastically reduces the amount of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes. It can occur in all ethnic groups and in all nationalities.  In America 1 in 20,000 people has a form of albinism.  Other parts of the world often have a ratio of 1 in 3000. In most cases the children born with albinism are born to parents that have normal hair and eye color.  

Unlike what some people assume, those that have this condition do not have red or pink eyes. In certain lighting conditions the eyes can have a red or purple tint, as the blood vessels in the back of the eyes can be seen.  Most people with albinism have light blue eyes, although it’s possible to have brown or green.  

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Vision

People with albinism do have vision problems, and most are not correctable. They generally do wear eyeglasses to deflect the sun, their eyes are extremely sensitive to light. In patients with albinism the development of the retina and nerve connections in the brain are not properly developed, leading to vision difficulties. This is often how the condition itself is diagnosed. Most people with this condition will never operate a motor vehicle; only about 10% will have vision sufficient to drive a car.  

Dermatology          

People with this condition have very fair complexions.It is imperative that they avoid sun exposure, as it can cause immediate damage.It is estimated that 5 minutes of sun exposure can cause sunburn on the very pale skin, so sunscreen and clothing are used as a barrier.  

There are different forms of albinism, and with some forms it may not be as apparent in the patient. A person can have a form of this condition, and have perfect vision, and only a few signs that the condition exists. You may notice a person with extremely light colored skin that simply will not hold pigment.  They could spend time in the sun, and they would burn, however it would never turn to tan. Their hair may be very blonde, almost white in young children. There is a good indication this indicates a gene within them, and yet they are not technically diagnosed with the condition.  

Social Acceptance

Kids can be pretty cruel when someone is different from them. It can be very noticeable when a child has albinism, so their classmates might address it often. It’s a given that children will look for anything, such as glasses or freckles, and use it as a means of bullying. There are a number of support groups for children that have this condition, and it is a good idea to recommend they seek support.There are few limitations, mainly avoiding the sun. Eyesight can prevent any closeup detailed work. In fact, about 90% are actually declared legally blind. It seems to be beneficial to address the child’s classroom and peers from the beginning. You may open it up for questions so that everything is out in the open. The hope is that once understood, they may be more accepting and less inclined to pick on someone because they are different.

Related: Exceptional Licensed Practical Nurse, Henrietta Okwuchi Nwamadi, LPN, will be Noted in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare

Home Health Care Nurses provide a valuable service to patients that are homebound.  Home health care nurses care for the chronically ill, terminally ill, and disabled patients within their home setting.  Patients may suffer from cognitive impairments, or physical disabilities.  Many home bound patients need physical assistance with personal care needs, and often have a direct support professional to help them with their non medical needs.  A health care nurse will provide medications, monitor vital signs, and educate patients’ needs.  Most are registered nurses, however, some agencies hire licensed practical nurses to work for in home patients.  

Observation, Assessment and Treatment

Home care nurses observe and assess the health of their clients. They monitor vitals and reactions to medications and look for changes in behavior and condition. Home care nurses report directly to the client’s physician and family, especially regarding concerns for new medical conditions or worsening health. Some nurses have specialties that allow them to administer treatments, such as therapeutic rehabilitation.

Companionship

The purpose of in-home nursing care is to provide an individual with independence while still remaining under supervised care. Elderly and disabled individuals are able to remain in the comfort and security of their own homes under the care of an in-home nurse. The nurse is responsible for the medical and emotional well-being of his or her patients. According to the Joint Commission, homebound patients are prone to depression and feelings of isolation, but home care nurses counteract these emotional pitfalls by providing companionship. They carry on conversations and get to know their patients and connect with them on a more personal level.

Medication Administration

Home care nurses are licensed and certified; therefore, they can administer medication to patients, including intravenous medications. Nurses are not able to prescribe medications to their patients, though they can alter a patient’s dosage with a physician’s approval.

In-Home Assistance

Home care nurses provide assistance with simple tasks such as bathing, grooming and eating. Some agencies require home care nurses to provide light housekeeping, do laundry and prepare meals for their clients, as well as provide emotional, medical and physical support. Home care nurses are often required to assist patients with toileting, getting in and out of bed and transporting them to and from the house.

Related:  What to Expect as a Nurse Anesthetist

Education and Requirements

Home care nurses go through one of three different accredited programs to be licensed and certified: a diploma program, an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree. After completing school, a home care nurse needs to pass a state nursing board exam to receive his or her license. Most states require licensed nurses to complete their continuing education and training to maintain their license on an annual or bi-annual basis. After passing the nursing licensure exam, home care nurses need to pass the Home Health Care Nurse certification through an American Nurses Credentialing.

What is home care?

Many definitions of home care exist, and home care can “look like” many different things. You might think of it as a service in which visiting nurses make home visits to provide wound care or other skilled or hands-on care, or may visit at-risk teenage mothers and their infants. Some home care nurses  will visit while aides or companions who are staying with frail elders and provide meals, light housekeeping, and assistance with activities of daily living. All of these activities may fall under the umbrella of home care.

However, as government reimbursement decreases and pay-for-performance and other outcome- and quality-driven initiatives take effect, the definition of home care must incorporate prevention and community. To that end, the U.S. Public Health Service defines home care as services “provided to individuals and families in their places of residence for the purpose of promoting, maintaining, or restoring health or for maximizing the level of independence while minimizing the effects of disability and illness, including terminal illness.”

Home health care refers to any health care given in the patient’s home. Such care may be provided by Medicare-certified or Medicaid-certified home health agencies, visiting nurse associations, hospice nurses who make home visits, community health nurses who provide well-child care to at-risk mothers, and many other types of home care. Also, some organizations provide what generally termed non medical home care is provided by aides or companions to help frail elders remain safely in their homes. These services might include personal care (such as assistance with hair washing), light housekeeping, shopping, meal preparation and cleanup, and other types of care that can help patients stay in the home.

Home health care team members

The home health care team may consist of:

•       Medical director

•       Registered nurses

•       Licensed practical nurse

•       Occupational therapist

•       Physical therapist

•       Physical therapy assistant

•       Speech therapist

•       Speech-language pathologist

•       Dietitian or nutritionist

•       Medical social worker

•       Pharmacist

•       wound, ostomy, and continence nurse.

In some cases, certain home care services must be provided under the supervision of a licensed provider.

Related:  Happy Nurses Lead To Happy Patients

Being all things to the patient

Imagine knocking on a stranger’s door and introducing yourself to a patient you’ve never met in a setting that’s personal and private. You are a stranger—a guest in the patient’s home. The home setting imparts a certain intimacy that makes the visit seem very personal: All parties must establish a comfort level with one another. As the visitor, you must acknowledge that you’re in the patient’s and family’s space and convey respect for that space.

What’s more, you will become all things to the patient, playing multiple roles beyond the nurse clinician. In effect, you’ll serve as the admitting nurse, the clinical decision maker, the person who knows and follows the rules regarding home care, the provider of hands-on care, and the instructor who teaches the patient and family—all while working to meet the plan-of-care goals, coordinating other services the patient needs, and collaborating with the physician.

Examples of patients who may need home care

•       An older adult new to diabetes or insulin treatment

•       A child going home with a tracheotomy and learning problems

•       A patient discharged with a urinary catheter for long-term use that will be home bound

•       A patient with a wound who needs further assessment, care, and management

•       A patient who needs skilled care and education or training after discharge

•       A patient with a complex chronic illness who needs ongoing management, such as medication management and assessed for changes in the plan of care

In a home care setting, RNs teach patients and their families how to manage their illnesses or injuries, explain post-treatment home care needs; diet, nutrition, and exercise programs; and self-administration of medication.  Home nursing care is often as follow-up care after discharge from a hospital or from a rehabilitation, long-term care, or skilled nursing facility.

When caring for patients, RNs establish a care plan or contribute to an existing plan that is developed by the physician. Plans may include numerous activities, such as teaching self-monitoring techniques, administering medication, including careful checking of dosages and avoiding interactions; starting, maintaining, and discontinuing intravenous (IV) lines for fluid, medication, blood, and blood products; administering therapies and treatments; observing the patient and recording those observations; and consulting with physicians and other healthcare clinicians.  

Related:  Esteemed Nurse Kathryn Joanne Stull, LPN, will be Honorably Mentioned in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare