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Long-Term Care Nursing Advisor

This bi-weekly e-mail newsletter features information and useful tips on assessing, treating, and preventing commonly-encountered nursing home problems.

2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

Long-Term Care Nursing Advisor

Issue 3, February 8, 2007

• Checking expiration dates

  When dispensing medication, be sure to always check the expiration date. Highlight or circle the...

• Preventing medication errors

  To reduce the risk of medication errors, consider doing the following:

Issue 26, December 28, 2007

• Edema

  Edema is an accumulation of fluid in the tissues. Many long-term care facility residents have acute...

• Identifying edema

  Types of edema include: Nonpitting edema: may be localized in one area or generalized throughout...

• A message from our partner

  Wound Care Alert   How to deal with your dermatological wound care agent options for 2008...

Issue 25, December 14, 2007

• Urinary tract infection (UTI)

  Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a symptomatic infection that can occur anywhere in the urinary...

• Symptoms of UTI

  Signs and symptoms of infection vary widely, and the resident usually presents differently than a...

Issue 24, November 30, 2007

• Skin tear

  A skin tear is a traumatic wound occurring principally on the extremities of older adults, as a...

• Skin changes increasing the risk of tears

  Aging changes in the skin that increase the risk of skin tears in the elderly include:  The...

Issue 23, November 16, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Polypharmacy

  Polypharmacy is the use of multiple drugs simultaneously. This is a common occurrence in elderly...

• Polypharmacy

  Polypharmacy is the use of multiple drugs simultaneously. This is a common occurrence in elderly...

• Problems with polypharmacy

  Despite the benefits, polypharmacy is a significant concern to those caring for the elderly in the...

Issue 22, November 2, 2007

• Subdural hematoma

  Falls are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly adults, accounting for more than...

• Types of subdural hematomas

  A subdural hematoma occurs when the head strikes a broad, hard object, causing internal bleeding.

Issue 21, October 19, 2007

• Autonomic dysreflexia

  Autonomic dysreflexia is a potentially life-threatening complication from a spinal cord...

• Signs and symptoms

  Document all of the following signs and symptoms, if present:

Issue 20, October 5, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Prerenal azotemia and acute renal failure

  Prerenal azotemia is the most common form of kidney failure seen in hospitalized patients.

• Prerenal azotemia and acute renal failure

  Prerenal azotemia is the most common form of kidney failure seen in hospitalized patients.

• Common causes

  The buildup of nitrogen waste products and accumulation of excess fluid in the body are responsible...

Issue 19, September 21, 2007

• Defining bruits

  A bruit in the carotid artery is an indication of cardiovascular disease.

• Assessing for bruits

  To assess the carotid artery for a bruit, you should:

Issue 18, September 7, 2007

• Neurological checks

  Neurological (neuro) checks are performed when a neurological disorder or injury is suspected.

• Level of consciousness

  The level of consciousness is always the most important indicator of cerebral injury or other...

Issue 17, August 24, 2007

• Incident report

  The incident report is used to alert administrative personnel to problems, gather data, and provide...

• What to include

  The incident report for an accident or injury such as a fall should include the following...

Issue 16, August 10, 2007

• Hip fractures

  A hip fracture is a break of the proximal femur at the connection where it angles into the hip...

• Risk factors

  Of all fractures from falls, hip fractures cause the greatest number of deaths and lead to the most...

Issue 15, June 29, 2007

• Weight loss and malnutrition

  Weight loss and malnutrition are common problems in long-term care.

• Pain management

  The goal of pain management is to eliminate the cause of the pain, provide analgesia, or both.

• Nursing responsibilities

  The responsibilities for nurses include assessing, managing, and evaluating the effectiveness of...

Issue 14, June 29, 2007

• Risk factors

  Residents who are at risk for weight loss and malnutrition usually experience one or more of the...

• Signs and symptoms

  The most common symptom of compartment syndrome is severe pain, especially with movement or...

Issue 13, June 15, 2007

• Dehydration

  Dehydration is the loss of at least 1% of body weight as a result of fluid loss.

• High risk conditions

  Female residents 85 years or older are at the greatest risk of dehydration. But any resident who...

Issue 12, June 1, 2007

• Incident investigation

  All incidents should be reviewed, investigated, and analyzed in a timely manner. Astute managers...

• Learning from errors

  Study and learn from incidents and injuries. Instead of automatically blaming individuals, evaluate...

Issue 11, May 18, 2007

• Definition of scabies

  Scabies is an infestation or parasitic disease of the skin caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei...

• Incubation period

  In people without previous exposure, the incubation period is two to six weeks before onset of...

Issue 10, May 4, 2007

• Definition of hypernatremia

  Hypernatremia is almost always an indication of excessive fluid depletion. It usually occurs with...

• Signs and symptoms

  Signs and symptoms of hypernatremia can be very subtle.

Issue 9, April 20, 2007

• Causes of septic shock

  Septic shock occurs when the body attempts to destroy an invading pathogen. The causative agent is...

• Causes of septic shock

  Septic shock occurs when the body attempts to destroy an invading pathogen. The causative agent is...

• Treatment for septic shock

  A resident with septicemia should be transferred to the hospital.

Issue 6, April 6, 2007

• Herb-drug interactions

  With herbal supplements gaining mainstrain popularity, it is essential that you closely monitor...

• Teaching your residents about potential interactions

  If you have residents who self medicate, they need guidance and education about possible...

Issue 5, March 23, 2007

• Pupose of wound dressings

  Unfortunately, there is no panacea for healing all types of wounds. Many individual variables must...

• Wound assessment and dressing selection

  An accurate wound assessment will help you identify the best dressing for the wound.