Almost every nurse has met that one stubborn patient, family member, or friend who would have great health, except that they’re among the 1.1 billion people in the world who smoke cigarettes. And, according to some studies in just the US alone, nurses can be the among most tobacco-vulnerable of all health professionals.
It’s one of the toughest habits to quit, but once you’ve quit, it’s worth the struggle. After being smoke-free for over 300 days myself, I’m enjoying the freedom that my tobaccoless life has to offer. I’ve never looked back for longer than a few seconds, and each time I think back to when I smoked, I either shudder or feel a refreshing wave of gratitude for having quit.
These resources below helped me, and they helped some of my treasured friends and family members who have also experienced a smoking habit.
#1: Allen Carr’s Easy Way To Quit Smoking
This classic book has helped millions of people kick their nicotine addiction to the curb. The book can be purchased on Amazon and at most any bookstore, and it’s also available as a PDF download.
The book itself is inexpensive, and the community that has gathered around the book has generated a wellspring of resources, motivation, and peer-to-peer support.
#2: Livestrong: MyQuit Coach
For the data-driven quitter, this app provides visualizations, graphs, and statistics that can help keep track of progress.
The app tracks money saved, consecutive days quit, and allows users to check in with a few simple buttons. If a craving happens, acknowledging the craving by clicking a button in the app can help quell the feeling.
If anyone ever needed just one more reason to quit smoking, this site has thousands of reasons. Though this site has an old-fashioned design, it’s a classic source of information, hearkening back to when the internet was first being used to expose the health disasters that could be caused by smoking. Right off the bat, on the first page, there’s over a hundred articles listed that could motivate even a long-time smoker to think twice.
There you have it – the books, website, and app above were the key forces that assisted me in quitting. It’s getting easier to quit smoking as well, since more and more research emerges each year about the dangers of smoking.
Lately, lawmakers in the US have demanded that most public spaces become a healthier, more smoke-free terrain. Smoking in public and indoors no longer happens, and nationwide stores like CVS have pulled their tobacco products from the shelves. Even though restaurants and stores like CVS could profit almost endlessly from the sale and support of tobacco, it’s been removed from the roster.
Thanks again for reading. If you have a favorite book, website, or video that’s helped you or a loved one quit smoking, feel free to share it in the comments. Every little bit helps.
We all seem to have at least one magical person in our lives who manages to floss every day. Or at least, they say that they floss every day. While it is tough for most of us to make a habit out of health activities like flossing, the five tips below can help even the most stubborn dental patients (and non-patients!) get started with improving dental health.
1. Get a new toothbrush
Chances are, the toothbrush you are using is too old, or the bristles are worn and no longer have the same effectiveness as they once did. Even after a month of use, some brushes can lose their plaque-fighting power. If you use an electric toothbrush, be sure to change the head on the brush at least every three months.
2. Find a way to make flossing fun
Hate flossing? Even if you don’t hate flossing, but it still doesn’t rank at the top of your priority list, the best way to get started might be with a mini-ritual. One of my friends does this: she flosses, and then treats herself to a bubble bath. The bubble bath only happens if the flossing is done!
As long as there is some kind of reward, even a small one, at the end of flossing, it will increase the chances of forming a healthy habit.
3. Schedule cleanings every 4-5 months
This is a tip that is hard to keep up with, but, it produces great returns. If you visit the dentist three times a year for a cleaning, rather than two, chances are you’ll be able to detect cavities, cracks, and plaque buildup much more effectively than the once-or-twice a year crowd.
This tip also comes with a dose of psychology: if you aim to schedule a cleaning for yourself every four months, and you end up being a little late, you will still hit the 6 month benchmark. You are set up for success!
4. Consider upgrading your toothpaste
Your toothbrush may have electric power, three speeds, and a brush with seven kinds of bristles, but what if your toothpaste is, well, not as specialized?
Many prescription-grade toothpastes are available from your dentist, which can help restore decay even more effectively than fluoride-containing products such as ACT mouthwash. A toothpaste with 1.0 or 1.1% sodium fluoride can be helpful. Ask your dentist if it is right for you.
5. Bring your toothbrush with you!
It may seem excessive to bring a toothbrush with you wherever you go, but it can come in handy. Especially if you drink coffee or if any sugary treats are available at the break room during holidays, a toothbrush-to-go can be a lifesaver for that fuzzy-tooth feeling.
That’s all for today, I hope these tips can help kick-start your dental health, or possibly assist a patient of yours who is looking for a different take on dentistry!
Nurses can run into this situation every day: A friend or co-worker of a patient visits the hospital or clinic and wants to know health information about the patient. The friend wants to know dearly, but he or she may not be on the needs-to-know basis according to HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This can put nurses in a tough spot, as nurses are often more accessible to patient friends and family than doctors.
It can be tough to quickly absorb the entirety of the HIPAA law, even after training and study. Here are some initial questions you can ask to ensure that you’re keeping patient information safe and secure:
For the day-to-day:
Who needs to know the information about this patient?
Do I need to know this information in order to do my job?
Who in this patient’s family needs to know, and who is permitted to know?
Could the information on this medicine bottle/IV/tray be seen by others?
Can anyone who does not need to know overhear me when I speak with this patient about his/her condition or personal health?
For the tech world:
Does this email contain PHI, or protected health information? Is this information identifiable with the patient’s name, email address, phone number, or birthday?
Is this email sent over a secure patient portal, or a HIPAA-compliant server?
Could this computer ever be stolen?
Nurses have the advantage of having incredible empathy for patients; yet, even the most empathetic nurse may be making mistakes when it comes to HIPAA. In a perfect world, we’d all like to just do what is right, and the above checklist can help keep things easy and secure. If you are ever curious to learn more about HIPAA, we recommend checking out the official website, here.
It’s one of the most effective health programs in the country, and one of the most trusted health non-profits in the United States. It could never happen without the care and dedication of nurses.
Nurse-Family Partnership began formally in 1996, but the thoughts behind the organization have roots back in the 1970s, when the founder David Olds learned first-hand of the hardships that low-income families face. After a lifetime of tests and research, the program officially launched, to the betterment of many lives.
So, what is Nurse-Family Partnership? Each nurse who is admitted is paired with a new mother who is experiencing pregnancy, childbirth, and raising a baby for the first time. Once a nurse is paired with a family, he or she visits the home of the family and provides healthcare advice, education, and support until the child is two years old. The goal of the program is to offer care and education to families that otherwise would have none.
If you’re already a certified nurse and you’re studying for another nursing degree, this program can be a great supplement to coursework. The program gives participants great way to get involved in the community and make lasting improvements to health. There’s enough time as well to study during each two year appointment, and many nurses find it is an excellent way to both begin a career in nursing and sustain a lifelong passion for helping families and children.
Though it may seem that this program assists only expectant and new mothers, Nurse-Family Partnership extends its services to expectant fathers in need of assistance. And, while the program formally ends when the child reaches age two, many nurse and family participants develop long-lasting, invaluable relationships.
For more information, you can find a Nurse-Family Partnership agency in most states, and visit the nonprofit’s main website here for more info.
More than any part of the body, feet take on quite a bit of work each day. Effectively supporting the foot with the right shoe can make huge differences for athletes as well as nursing professionals!
While it’s tough to find a truly perfect shoe, here are a few shoes that fit exceptionally well with the nurse lifestyle.
1. Nurse Mates
Aside from offering nurse tops and bottoms in almost any color, NurseMates.com also offers a series of ultra-comfortable shoes. Every shoe from Nurse Mates features a large, supportive heel, high-grip soles, and breathable fabric. You can pick up a no-frills work shoe, or a more dazzling pair like these slip-ons!
2. New Balance
If you’re often finding that the arches of your feet are tired after a long day, you might need a shoe with extra arch support. As an alternative to orthotics, New Balance shoes support folks with high arches and make running, walking, and standing more comfortable and ergonomic. Though it may take a couple of tries to find the right New Balance style for you, these shoes may become an object of lifelong devotion.
3. Timberland: Caregiver
Designed specifically with nursing and the healthcare profession in mind, the broad, rocking heels in these shoes offer wonderful comfort. The grips on the bottom of the shoe prevent slipping. Easy-to-clean polyurethane makes these shoes a durable choice.
With just these three brands, you’ll have many shoes to choose from! Do you have a shoe that you swear by? Let us know in the comments below!
