Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Better Living Corner: Personal Toilet Seat Covers
Customer Question: “I’m looking for personal packs of toilet seat covers. Do you carry those?”
Answer: Yes, we do carry the new NeatSeat Toilet Seat Covers! These personal packs are compact and easy to carry because each pack contains just 10 seat covers. Ideal for camping, traveling and shopping - anywhere there is a public restroom!
MI3032 $3.43/pack
Answer: Yes, we do carry the new NeatSeat Toilet Seat Covers! These personal packs are compact and easy to carry because each pack contains just 10 seat covers. Ideal for camping, traveling and shopping - anywhere there is a public restroom!
MI3032 $3.43/pack
Click HERE for more information or to purchase these from our website!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
5 Things Ill Never Do, Now That I'm A Nurse
Source: ScrubsMag.com, • June 8, 2012
Oh, heavens. When I look back on some of the crazy stuff I did as a young’un, I can’t catch my breath. Working in a hospital that specializes in neurocritical care has meant a big change in my perceptions of what’s smart and what’s not.
I wasn’t all that wild as a teenager and young adult, really. (Hi Mom!) There were just some things I did that I remember with awe.
Now that I’m a nurse, I would never:
1. Go car-surfing while a buddy of mine attempts to shoot me with a homemade bazooka that fires things tied to firecrackers.
You’d think this would be self-explanatory, wouldn’t you? It’s not.
2. Mix muscle relaxants, alcohol and Tylenol.
I shudder to think that I actually did this more than once, back when I was working in a college bookstore. Something about lifting three or four tons of books a day made it seem like a really good idea.
3. Ski.
If somebody came up to you and said, “Hey! I want you to hurl yourself down this steep hill while wearing a pair of fiberglass knife blades attached to your feet!” you’d look at him like he was cray to the cray to the zee. Yet, if the same person said, “Hey! Let’s go skiing!” you’d be all over it, wouldn’t you? I was, before I saw what running into a tree could do to a brain.
4. Assume that I know anything about anything.
People think that because you’re a nurse, you’ll know everything there is to know about everything from wound glue to chest tubes to newborns. It’s not true. You might have a good overview of things when you come out of school, but specialization rapidly deprives you of any knowledge you might’ve had outside of your field. I tell doctors all the time, “Don’t assume I know jack about what you’re doing, okay?” and it’s true.
5. Take my health or my ability to move for granted.
Any day spent on the right side of the ground is a good day. I am not kidding. If you can get up, move around, take care of yourself in a reasonable manner and communicate somehow, you’re way ahead of a whole bunch of people that I see every day. I have never been so thankful for what I’ve got, and so determined to keep it, as I was after seeing a few brain-injured people in a rehab facility.
Oh, heavens. When I look back on some of the crazy stuff I did as a young’un, I can’t catch my breath. Working in a hospital that specializes in neurocritical care has meant a big change in my perceptions of what’s smart and what’s not.
I wasn’t all that wild as a teenager and young adult, really. (Hi Mom!) There were just some things I did that I remember with awe.
Now that I’m a nurse, I would never:
1. Go car-surfing while a buddy of mine attempts to shoot me with a homemade bazooka that fires things tied to firecrackers.
You’d think this would be self-explanatory, wouldn’t you? It’s not.
2. Mix muscle relaxants, alcohol and Tylenol.
I shudder to think that I actually did this more than once, back when I was working in a college bookstore. Something about lifting three or four tons of books a day made it seem like a really good idea.
3. Ski.
If somebody came up to you and said, “Hey! I want you to hurl yourself down this steep hill while wearing a pair of fiberglass knife blades attached to your feet!” you’d look at him like he was cray to the cray to the zee. Yet, if the same person said, “Hey! Let’s go skiing!” you’d be all over it, wouldn’t you? I was, before I saw what running into a tree could do to a brain.
4. Assume that I know anything about anything.
People think that because you’re a nurse, you’ll know everything there is to know about everything from wound glue to chest tubes to newborns. It’s not true. You might have a good overview of things when you come out of school, but specialization rapidly deprives you of any knowledge you might’ve had outside of your field. I tell doctors all the time, “Don’t assume I know jack about what you’re doing, okay?” and it’s true.
5. Take my health or my ability to move for granted.
Any day spent on the right side of the ground is a good day. I am not kidding. If you can get up, move around, take care of yourself in a reasonable manner and communicate somehow, you’re way ahead of a whole bunch of people that I see every day. I have never been so thankful for what I’ve got, and so determined to keep it, as I was after seeing a few brain-injured people in a rehab facility.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Attention Ostomates: Prevent Drug Interactions
Republished from www.extension.missouri.edu via Ostomy Association of Metro Denver, Inc., July/August 2013
Drug interactions are serious business. Interactions can reduce the effectiveness of drugs; the drugs don't work as well as they should. At other times, drug interactions lead to serious complications, such as drowsiness, slowed reactions, stomach upset, liver damage, dizziness, lightheadedness, irregular heartbeat, and a sudden rise in blood pressure.
Pay attention to how your body responds to medicines and be sensitive to side effects. Don't assume these effects are normal. You can prevent some interactions by becoming a wiser health consumer.
Read labels and package inserts carefully. Pay particular attention to the "Warning" and "Precaution" sections. Review this information each time you get a refill; guidelines for use change as more is learned.
Keep a list of your medication in your medicine cabinet as well as in your wallet or purse.
Before you take a new medication, ask:
- What is the name of this medication?
- Can I take this with other medications?
- Should I avoid certain foods, beverages, or other products?
- How does this medicine work in the body?
- What other kinds of precaution are necessary?
- Is there additional written information that I could read about the medicine?
Go to one pharmacy for all your prescriptions.
Good record-keeping can reduce the risk of interactions. Many pharmacies have their records computerized.
Don't use outdated drugs, bottles that appear to have been tampered with, or another person's prescription.
Know ahead of time what to do if anything goes wrong when taking medicine. Know who to contact and how to reach him/her. Keep phone numbers of your doctors on hand next to the phone, and on a card you carry in your wallet or purse.
Drug interactions are serious business. Interactions can reduce the effectiveness of drugs; the drugs don't work as well as they should. At other times, drug interactions lead to serious complications, such as drowsiness, slowed reactions, stomach upset, liver damage, dizziness, lightheadedness, irregular heartbeat, and a sudden rise in blood pressure.
Pay attention to how your body responds to medicines and be sensitive to side effects. Don't assume these effects are normal. You can prevent some interactions by becoming a wiser health consumer.
Read labels and package inserts carefully. Pay particular attention to the "Warning" and "Precaution" sections. Review this information each time you get a refill; guidelines for use change as more is learned.
Keep a list of your medication in your medicine cabinet as well as in your wallet or purse.
Before you take a new medication, ask:
- What is the name of this medication?
- Can I take this with other medications?
- Should I avoid certain foods, beverages, or other products?
- How does this medicine work in the body?
- What other kinds of precaution are necessary?
- Is there additional written information that I could read about the medicine?
Go to one pharmacy for all your prescriptions.
Good record-keeping can reduce the risk of interactions. Many pharmacies have their records computerized.
Don't use outdated drugs, bottles that appear to have been tampered with, or another person's prescription.
Know ahead of time what to do if anything goes wrong when taking medicine. Know who to contact and how to reach him/her. Keep phone numbers of your doctors on hand next to the phone, and on a card you carry in your wallet or purse.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
7 scrubs wardrobe malfunctions you can fix today
by Scrubs • April 23, 2012
It’s easy to get used to wearing the same thing to work over and over again. This approach to workwear is cheap and requires little effort. But at some point, it really is time to cast a critical eye on your scrubs wardrobe and clear out the pieces that just aren’t cutting it anymore. Here are seven items you might find in your closet that mean you’ve put off this task for too long.
1. Prints That Match Your MC Hammer Pants
Do you own scrubs tops in bright sherbet colors covered with geometric designs? Do they date back to the Reagan era? With so many trendy, modern prints to choose from today, there’s no excuse for wearing outdated designs. By the way, if you sewed shoulder pads into your scrubs tops back in the day, we can’t be friends anymore.
2. Stains That Would Shame Lady Macbeth
To stain is human; to bleach, divine. But even a heavy-duty dose of Clorox won’t get out some spots. Everyone expects nurses to get nasty stuff on their scrubs at work. What they don’t appreciate is recognizing the same stuff that spilled on your scrubs two weeks ago showing up again. Wave the not-so-white flag of surrender and let permanently stained scrubs retire with dignity.
3. Low-Riding Scrubs That Might Get You Kicked Off a Bus
Yes, “sagging” is a style. It’s just not one you want to follow at work. If you have scrubs with a missing drawstring or weakened elastic, you might find yourself accidentally falling into this bottomless pit of fashion hell. Stop hitching up or safety-pinning your pants and spring for new ones with real staying power.
4. Patch Pockets That Have Been Patched Too Often
The amount of stuff we tote around at work takes a real toll on our pockets. If the pocket itself starts coming off, that’s a quick fix. But eventually the fabric on your scrubs at the corner of the pocket gives way—leaving a little square tear. Even if you patch it, this damaged area won’t look the same again. You don’t want to be known as the Raggedy Ann nurse.
5. Some Hues You Should Lose
You bought these scrubs when chartreuse green or mustard yellow was all the rage. But the truth is that these colors look absolutely hideous on you. If these scrubs have been sitting in the back of your closet, barely worn, you can donate them. That way, you can still feel good about a purchase that went horribly wrong.
It’s easy to get used to wearing the same thing to work over and over again. This approach to workwear is cheap and requires little effort. But at some point, it really is time to cast a critical eye on your scrubs wardrobe and clear out the pieces that just aren’t cutting it anymore. Here are seven items you might find in your closet that mean you’ve put off this task for too long.
1. Prints That Match Your MC Hammer Pants
Do you own scrubs tops in bright sherbet colors covered with geometric designs? Do they date back to the Reagan era? With so many trendy, modern prints to choose from today, there’s no excuse for wearing outdated designs. By the way, if you sewed shoulder pads into your scrubs tops back in the day, we can’t be friends anymore.
2. Stains That Would Shame Lady Macbeth
To stain is human; to bleach, divine. But even a heavy-duty dose of Clorox won’t get out some spots. Everyone expects nurses to get nasty stuff on their scrubs at work. What they don’t appreciate is recognizing the same stuff that spilled on your scrubs two weeks ago showing up again. Wave the not-so-white flag of surrender and let permanently stained scrubs retire with dignity.
3. Low-Riding Scrubs That Might Get You Kicked Off a Bus
Yes, “sagging” is a style. It’s just not one you want to follow at work. If you have scrubs with a missing drawstring or weakened elastic, you might find yourself accidentally falling into this bottomless pit of fashion hell. Stop hitching up or safety-pinning your pants and spring for new ones with real staying power.
4. Patch Pockets That Have Been Patched Too Often
The amount of stuff we tote around at work takes a real toll on our pockets. If the pocket itself starts coming off, that’s a quick fix. But eventually the fabric on your scrubs at the corner of the pocket gives way—leaving a little square tear. Even if you patch it, this damaged area won’t look the same again. You don’t want to be known as the Raggedy Ann nurse.
5. Some Hues You Should Lose
You bought these scrubs when chartreuse green or mustard yellow was all the rage. But the truth is that these colors look absolutely hideous on you. If these scrubs have been sitting in the back of your closet, barely worn, you can donate them. That way, you can still feel good about a purchase that went horribly wrong.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Should We Grow Genetically Modified Crops?
Adapted from www.pbs.org/Harvest of Fear, by Peter Tyson
Industry, government, and many academic scientists tout the benefits of genetically modified (GM) foods for agriculture, ecosystems, and human health and well-being, including feeding a world population bursting at the seams. With equal passion, consumer groups, environmental activists, religious organizations and some scientists warn of unforeseen health, environmental and socioeconomic consequences.
The debate concerns each of us: what we and our children are eating. And, you’ve been consuming GM foods for some time. Farmers have been raising GM food crops such as corn, soybeans and potatoes since the mid-90’s and because food companies pool raw materials from many sources, they end up in a single processing stream. And with global GM crop farming rising 25-fold in just four years, it’s something we need to educate ourselves about.
Is genetically modified food safe to eat? Scientists and government regulators maintain that GM food presents no food safety issues at the present moment. Biotechnology critics and other scientists disagree, arguing that there’s inadequate testing and regulation of GM food. The StarLink episode (in which GM corn, approved only for animal feed, was found in taco shells) revealed flaws in the U.S. regulatory system.
Critics of biotechnology say GM’s introduce a new genre of environmental and health questions. For example, introduction of a foreign gene from distant species (e.g., a gene from a fish into a strawberry) increases the risk of allergenicity. Also, the risk of new toxins must be considered, and they point to a lab research which has revealed possible unintended consequences of GMO’s.
What are the benefits of GM’s?
GM crops can help the environment (reducing the need for herbicides and pesticides) and the farmer be more successful (pathogen resistance creates abundant crops). Using high-yield technology increases production and allows more land to remain undisturbed. Also GM crops make it easier to feed the world (enhanced crops with vitamins).
So basically GMO’s that are in our food stream are genetically modified to deter bugs and disease creating healthier crops with less chemical applications. The question is what gene is introduced to the plant that is the deterrent, and is that healthy for humans to consume?
Petitions have been submitted to the FDA to have all GM foods labeled as such, and they are “currently considering those petitions”. The FDA’s Biotechnology Policy is dated May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22984). In 2001the FDA issued a proposed premarket notification rule (66 FR 4706) where developers submit a scientific and regulatory assessment of the bioengineered food 120 days before the food is marketed.
Who is regulating GM’s? The FDA works with most bioengineered plants through Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), a division of the USDA. Bioengineered foods that contain an introduced plant-incorporated-protectant (PIP) is subject to review by the EPA.
The FDA’s website states: “FDA supports voluntary labeling for food derived from genetic engineering”.
Other Source: www.fda.gov
Industry, government, and many academic scientists tout the benefits of genetically modified (GM) foods for agriculture, ecosystems, and human health and well-being, including feeding a world population bursting at the seams. With equal passion, consumer groups, environmental activists, religious organizations and some scientists warn of unforeseen health, environmental and socioeconomic consequences.
The debate concerns each of us: what we and our children are eating. And, you’ve been consuming GM foods for some time. Farmers have been raising GM food crops such as corn, soybeans and potatoes since the mid-90’s and because food companies pool raw materials from many sources, they end up in a single processing stream. And with global GM crop farming rising 25-fold in just four years, it’s something we need to educate ourselves about.
Is genetically modified food safe to eat? Scientists and government regulators maintain that GM food presents no food safety issues at the present moment. Biotechnology critics and other scientists disagree, arguing that there’s inadequate testing and regulation of GM food. The StarLink episode (in which GM corn, approved only for animal feed, was found in taco shells) revealed flaws in the U.S. regulatory system.
Critics of biotechnology say GM’s introduce a new genre of environmental and health questions. For example, introduction of a foreign gene from distant species (e.g., a gene from a fish into a strawberry) increases the risk of allergenicity. Also, the risk of new toxins must be considered, and they point to a lab research which has revealed possible unintended consequences of GMO’s.
What are the benefits of GM’s?
GM crops can help the environment (reducing the need for herbicides and pesticides) and the farmer be more successful (pathogen resistance creates abundant crops). Using high-yield technology increases production and allows more land to remain undisturbed. Also GM crops make it easier to feed the world (enhanced crops with vitamins).
So basically GMO’s that are in our food stream are genetically modified to deter bugs and disease creating healthier crops with less chemical applications. The question is what gene is introduced to the plant that is the deterrent, and is that healthy for humans to consume?
Petitions have been submitted to the FDA to have all GM foods labeled as such, and they are “currently considering those petitions”. The FDA’s Biotechnology Policy is dated May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22984). In 2001the FDA issued a proposed premarket notification rule (66 FR 4706) where developers submit a scientific and regulatory assessment of the bioengineered food 120 days before the food is marketed.
Who is regulating GM’s? The FDA works with most bioengineered plants through Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), a division of the USDA. Bioengineered foods that contain an introduced plant-incorporated-protectant (PIP) is subject to review by the EPA.
The FDA’s website states: “FDA supports voluntary labeling for food derived from genetic engineering”.
Other Source: www.fda.gov
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