Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Advantages to Having a Live in Nurse for my Elderly Parents


Advantages to Having a Live in Nurse for Your Elderly Parents

As limitations that accompany the inevitable age-related degeneration that afflicts the elderly become increasingly apparent, our aging parents come to require assistance with their daily activities. Whether your parents have agreed to join your household or they insist on retaining the independence of remaining in their own home, it becomes advantageous to enlist the help of a live-in nurse. MCR RN jobs Los Angeles offer assistance in the daily care of your parents, which in turn relieves some of the burden from your already busy life as well as provide peace of mind for the entire family.


As mobility and other physical and/or psychological limitations prevent the aged from performing their basic daily care and maintenance activities, they need a compassionate helping hand. Between your own career, children and household responsibilities, you have very limited time. A live-in nurse can provide daily medical care, basic grooming, light home cleaning, feeding and companionship. Some live-in nurses may also offer to do any essential shopping, as well as assist with coordinating any necessary doctor’s appointments. Your elderly parent will reap the emotional benefits of having the company of another individual to communicate with, and the overall sense of independence that he or she will not experience living in a nursing facility. Your parent will not feel riddled with guilt over becoming a burden to you.

By enlisting the help of a live-in nurse, you are not obligated to drop by on a daily basis to take on the caregiving duties after a long day at work, feeling rushed because you know that you have your own household to take care of. The time that you would normally spend visiting your parent will now be enriched. Rather than spending most of your visit running around to take care of Mom or Dad, that time can be focused on reconnecting, chatting over a cup of tea, reminiscing through old photos, bonding with grandchildren and just enjoying one another’s company.

A live-in nurse will offer you the comfort of a supportive line of communication that enables you to keep tabs on Mom or Dad at any time; you will be alerted to any concerns and you will be reassured that your beloved parent is being looked after and taken care of. Live-in RN jobs Los Angeles provide advantages for parents and children alike, including a reassuring quality of life for your elderly parent.


Thursday, April 5, 2012

A Nurse's Discretion: Can a Nursing Professional Override a Physician's Decision?

By definition, the nursing professional provides hands-on medical care to patients in clinics, medical centers and home-base health-care environments. Additionally, these professionals operate in a diverse range of clinical environments ranging from anesthesiology to emergency pediatric support.

Daily, the registered nurse interacts with physicians or surgical specialists to deliver patient status reports while receiving instructions on the parameters of individual patient care.

This interaction represents the key component in the delivery of treatment for patients who visit a medical center on an ambulatory or walk-in basis in addition to patients undergoing extensive care while admitted to a medical center.

The patient care environment sees the status of each patient fluctuate with the circumstances regarding their medical condition. The registered nurse performs a key role in responding to an acute or emergency development by administering medications or performing the accepted techniques in response to the emergency.

By law, the administration of medication or the performance of any procedure by a registered or licensed practical nurse must be authorized by an attending physician.
This relationship remains the most critical element in preventing malpractice and establishing a solid chain of care in most medical environments.


In the face of these facts, the question remains: When can a nurse override a doctor’s orders or decision?

Simple answer: Never

As mentioned above, legal parameters prevent the registered or licensed practical nurse from performing or ordering a procedure on a patient without authorization from an attending physician. Despite this, many nursing professionals
share a relationship of increased trust with their physician colleagues.

This trust often results from close knit realities of a small clinic working environment, or reflects a physician’s confidence in the nurse’s professional competency. That being said, a physician’s trust in a nursing professional’s ability to provide the utmost patient care sees slivers a leeway appear when providing direct patient care.

Of course this leeway remains fully documented on medical reports while the patient family receives a full explanation on each procedure.

Additionally, rare cases emerge where questions regarding the competency or capacity of a physician to perform a task exist. These cases must accompany a chain of events that clearly establishes the nurse’s need to act.

In the case of nurses assigned to a branch of the United States military, the prevalence of the rank structure sees board certified physicians required to follow the lawful orders of higher ranking officers who are in fact, registered nurses by training.

These lawful orders often regard medical care for members of the military or in extreme cases, foreign combatives.

Regardless of the situation, the prospective nursing candidate interested in pursuing
registered nurse jobs in California, must remain aware of the parameters of the position, while understanding that the prescribed standard of care must remain intact.


Sunday, March 18, 2012

At what age can I get cosmetic surgery?

Patients can receive cosmetic surgery at any age. However, doctors hesitate to perform most of the procedures to young patients, until they are mature enough physically and mentally to decide on the merits of the procedures. A patient can only give consent to cosmetic surgery when they have attained 18 years of age. Any patient below the age of 18 must receive consent from a parent or guardian.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), does not give an age limit, however, it cautions that one’s body must have undergone certain physical changes, and attained a certain growth level before undergoing plastic surgery. The physical changes start at the onset of teenage or earlier up to18-21 years of age. The age bracket determines the appropriate procedure, for example, one cannot have a breast procedure until the breasts develop fully, which is at around 19-21 years or rhinoplasty until after the face develops fully; the appropriate age is at 13-14 years for girls and 14-15 for boys.

Individuals develop at different rates, thus the surgeon has to evaluate a patient’s growth rate to determine if the body is mature enough for the specific procedure. Children and adults must receive pediatric and physical exam clearance respectively before cosmetic surgery.

The ASPS advises that one must consent to the procedure and understand the implications of plastic surgery. Parents should advise children against plastic surgery and help them develop socially; this also helps boost their esteems.

If a child suffers from low self-esteem and social withdrawal because of their physical appearance or flaw, then a doctor may recommend cosmetic surgery accompanied by psychological counseling to help the individual. Such procedures, however, should be administered only as a last resolute to avoid exposing children to the risks of cosmetic surgery earlier. Timely cosmetic surgery on children who consider themselves ugly or suffer from extreme low self-esteem reduces chances of destructive behavior such as eating disorders.

Psychologists advise one to think through before surgery and only consent to cosmetic surgery if necessary. After a certain period of time, most people who preferred surgery in their teenage change their minds. It is therefore necessary to wait until one is old enough as the changes made are permanent. One should avoid starting early on procedures that require repeat treatments such as juvederm as they cost you more and expose you to risks of surgery at an early age. 

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Ways to Keep Your Skin Young and Fresh

Dry, sagging, spotted and dull skin is tell-tale signs of age. Luckily, you can avoid these pitfalls of aging and keep your skin looking young and fresh by following these simple tips.

Exfoliate Every Week
As you age, it takes longer for your body to create new cells, resulting in dull and lifeless skin. The key to looking radiant is to remove dead skin cells each week. Invest in an exfoliating scrub or treat yourself to a salicylic acid peel each week to return your youthful glow.

Moisturize
Aging skin is often dry and flaky. Banish flakes forever by using a moisturizer every day. Look for a formula that contains sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage. Serums that contain linoleic acid or proteins will do double duty by adding moisture and plumping your skin at the same time.

At-home Masks
You can get younger-looking skin without every leaving the house thanks to these natural remedies that can cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize all at once. A paste made of hazelnuts and milk can be applied weekly to replenish collagen, add moisture and make your skin more firm. Avocado-based masks are high in vitamin C, an antioxidant that can increase skin elasticity and nourish dry skin.

Cleanse Daily
Each day, your skin absorbs sweat, dirt, makeup and other products. It is essential that the skin be cleansed of these contaminants every day. Use a gentle cleanser that will remove all products without irritating your skin. Choose a deep-cleansing formula that will prevent breakouts and remove dirt and grime from pores.

Reduce Fat with Zeltiq
Zeltiq in Los Angeles can help restore your youthful appearance by using non-invasive technologies to reduce fat around the body. By removing fat cells in certain targeted areas of the body, Zeltiq Los Angeles can make your skin look fresher in just one day.

Tone Your Skin
After cleansing, apply a toner each day to protect skin from dirt, sweat and other hazards that can cause breakouts. A toner causes the pores to tighten, making it more difficult for contaminants to penetrate the skin. Toners can also help soothe oily skin, eliminate blotchiness and leave skin smooth and clear.

For best results, practice each one of these remedies and incorporate lifestyle changes that can result in healthier, younger-looking skin. For a fresh glow, exercise daily, limit stress and consume at least eight glasses of water each day. Soon, your skin will be radiant, clear, smooth and stunning.