New Fall Scrubs - Part 6!

Just when you thought we couldn't get anymore cute scrubs in, here come a few more!

Dear Ostomate, Just Have Fun!

Adapted from Ostomy Association of Metro Denver, Inc., Newsletter, July/August 2012

By Jim Folsom

I came down with a very nasty case of Ulcerative Colitis and this resulted in having my colon, rectum, and anus being removed.  My surgery was in January 2008 and I now have a permanent ileostomy. 

With only a few complications, my recovery went well but any chances of engaging in my over-45-mens-softball “social event” were gone for the following spring and summer.  So I got on my bicycle to get some exercise.  I was reluctant to get on that bicycle seat because my rear end was still in the healing process, but my fears proved to be unfounded.  The next spring eventually came, and along with it, softball season.  Similar to my concerns about returning to bicycling, I was hesitant to get back on the team.  Could I run the bases well?  Would I be too vulnerable standing at the plate?  Could I continually be bending over and fielding ground balls?  I knew I wasn’t going to be sliding head first into any of the bases.  With encouragement from my team, I decided to play.

My position was first base.  I played the first few games without incident.  But then came THE game.  The other team was to bat first which meant that we took the field and I took my position at first base.  The first batter hit a ground ball slightly to my right, I took a couple of steps, backhanded the ground ball then beat the runner to the bag.  The second batter was left handed which puts the first and second basemen on high alert.  And sure enough, he hit an extremely hard ground ball directly to me.  It took a bad bounce, bypassed my glove and hit me on the upper left thigh.  This was just inches from my ileostomy bag.  The ball traveled those few inches and hit the bottom part of my bag but not my stoma.  But I didn't know that at the time.  I fell to my knees in pain not really caring about the ball or the runner.  I reached for the collar of my t-shirt, pulled it away from my neck and looked inside.  It was full of...well you know what.  I looked at our team manager and told him he was playing first base.  I excused myself from the game and grabbed my equipment bag which also had all the necessary stuff for “accidents”.  I ended up discretely kneeling/hiding behind a large tree, stripped to the waist, wiped myself up and replaced the bag.  I fortunately wear a two-piece system.  By the time I put on a clean t-shirt and went back to the bench I discovered that I had missed only one inning.  The manager put me back in as catcher, a rather safe position to play on a “geezer league” slow pitch team.  Those on the team that didn’t know I was an ostomate surely learned something that day! 

I tell you my “softball” story for a couple of reasons. First, being an ostomate, having a stoma, wearing a bag might be cause for making some adjustments in your life but it doesn’t mean that you can no longer participate in activities you’ve always been accustomed to.  I still ride my bike.  I can still play softball.  I can still go skiing.  The list goes on.  Playing full contact football, or ultimate fighting (which I’ve never considered) might be the exception but I think you understand my point.  Second, people can be very understanding, patient and helpful in the event you have one of those untimely and messy “accidents”.  We tend to think other people will be disgusted that you wear a “crap sack”.  That’s not usually the case.  Everyone at the game was very understanding.  I cleaned myself up, got back in the game and moved on.  If we keep it in proper perspective and display a sense of humor about our condition, other people will too.  Being comfortable with who we now are goes a long way at putting other people at ease.

New Lower Price on Our Stair Lift!

Are stairs to difficult?  Don't get a new home, get a STAIR LIFT!  With our new lower price, getting one is even more affordable!

Pinnacle SL600 by Harmar
 
Was $3282.00, NOW $2955.00

Get a lot for a little with this premium stair lift, not to mention adding independence and mobility to your life!
This is the narrowest stairlift in the world - only 11" when folded.
Featuring a sleek design and robust construction.
Comfortable seat with height adjustment and swivel seat at upper landing for easy and safe entry and exit.
Easy operating controls and indicator lights.
Safety sensors that stop the lift when it meets an obstruction.
Removable key lock for safety when you are away (Optional upgrade).
Easily changeable from left to right side.
Standard unit is 16 ft. with additional lenghts available up to 70 ft.
Patented helical worm drive provides a gentle ride.
No greases or lubricants; easy to keep clean.
3-Year warranty on components and drive train, lifetime warranty on the rack, 1 year warranty on the batteries.
Weight capacity is 350 lbs.
115VAC electrical requirement with 24V DC battery.
Speed is 17' per minute.
Incline limit is 32-52 degrees.
Drive Systems is Polymer worm/worm rack.
Motor speed at rated load is 62rpm, motor output torque at rated load is 18lb ft., motor output amps at rated load is 14 amps.
Track/rail is extruded aluminum.
Average return trips per charge is 20-40 (varies with load and length).
Only 5 tools are required to install.
Shipping weight is 200lbs for 16' unit and ships in 4 packages, with the largest package weighing 58 lbs.

Installation available locally for an additional charge. 

Call for complete pricing today:  303-455-1300 or 800-873-7121

New Fall Scrubs - Part 5! Introducing DANSKO Scrubs!

We all know and love Dansko for their awesome shoes that help keep our feet happy along with the rest of our body!

Who knew they now offer a line of scrubs?!  These are simply luxurious scrubs and feel amazing, especially on!  The blend of poly, cotton and spandex feel wonderful and provide a soft stretch for greater comfort.

Check out these new scrubs, along with all of our other New Arrivals at www.LaurelUniforms.com/NewArrivals

New Fall Scrubs - Part 4!

You can't possibly be tired of looking at these cute new scrubs we just got in, can you?! 

Ok, good.  Because here are a few more!

For a look at ALL of our new arrivals, click here:  www.LaurelUniforms.com/NewArrivals



NEW FALL SCRUBS - PART 3!

Most women NEVER tire of browsing or shopping, and its a good thing because we have MORE new scrubs for your shopping pleasure!

Check out our entire stock of new arrivals:  www.LaurelUniforms.com/NewArrivals

NEW FALL SCRUBS - PART 2!

The season is changing - at least in the stores!  Don't fear - there are plenty of fun prints to wear through the rest of the summer. 

Check out ALL of our new arrivals at our website: http://www.laureluniforms.com/newarrivals.aspx


 

NEW FALL SCRUBS HAVE ARRIVED!

Ohhhhh boy, do we have some fun new scrubs this week! 

Check out ALL of our new arrivals at our website: http://www.laureluniforms.com/newarrivals

Here is a sneak peek of what's new:

What Does Independence Day Mean to You?

By Mrs. G

My husband I were watching one of those cable shows about antiques when a gentleman presented a rifle that surprised everyone. They discovered it was made in 1776. Oh! That was the year of our Independence! Technically the rifle was a musket, but what a piece of Americana he had!

I decided I need to brush up on my history, specifically Independence Day, to remind me of why we celebrate. This also made me want to re-read the Declaration of Independence since, ahem, it had been a while. So, I am sharing my journey of learning with you!

1776 is the official beginning of our nationhood, with the Declaration of Independence being signed by Congress on July 4, 1776. Of course the official date has been disputed. This document announced that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as independent states and were no longer part of the British Empire. The thirteen colonies included Province of New Hampshire (New Hampshire), Province of Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts and Maine), Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Rhode Island), Connecticut Colony (Connecticut), Province of New York (New York and Vermont), Province of New Jersey (New Jersey), Province of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania), Province of Maryland (Maryland), Colony of Dominion of Virginia (Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia), Province of North Carolina (North Carolina and Tennessee), Province of South Carolina (South Carolina) and Province of Georgia (Georgia and sections of Alabama and Mississippi).

The original handwritten Declaration of Independence was lost, but an original copy is what is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. All other copies have been derived from this original copy document.

One of the best known sentences in the English language comes from the Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Pretty powerful stuff.

The Declaration of Independence also includes a list of charges against King George III, including cutting off colony trade with all parts of the world, Quartering large bodies of troops against colonies, depriving colonies of the benefits of Trial by Jury, and the most famous of all, imposing taxes without consent.

It has been said King George III suffered from recurrent and eventually permanent mental illness. He is often remembered as “The Mad King” and the “King Who Lost America”.

236 Years later, what does Independence Day mean to you? What American ideals do you hold dear? What do you think makes this country great?

My Hospital is Merging...Now What?

Working at a hospital that is in the process of a merger can be frightening. As the economy worsens and government funding diminishes, more small hospitals are merging with larger facilities. If your hospital is going through a merger, there are ways to successfully navigate the changes and keep upbeat about the situation!

Stay in touch. Keep yourself in the loop by checking your email and reading all posts and newsletters. Talk to others about the changes and ask your supervisors for information. Attend meetings concerning the merger.

Do the paperwork. Fill out all forms required by your new employer. This may include a new job application resume, 401(k) rollovers, life and health insurance applications, and retirement benefits.

Take the test(s). Required testing may include drug testing and PPD, along with required facility education, safety and CPR.

Focus on the positives. You have a job and you don’t have to leave your friends and coworkers. You can maintain your present position without the hassle of learning a new routine and working with new faces.

Stay optimistic. It’s difficult to stay optimistic when the workplace around you seems like it’s crumbling, but keeping a positive outlook will eventually pay off. It’s hard to work with people who are negative, and being positive will make the transition easier for everyone involved!

Find a safe place to vent. Find someone outside your current facility to talk to. It’s not always a good idea to vent to coworkers since what you say can and will be used against you. Merging is hard on everyone, including the patients—just keep your complaints buried until you leave work.

Merging can bring many positives to a facility that’s having financial difficulties. Maintain your composure and smile. Merging with another facility will be bumpy at first, but in the few short months after the merger is finalized, doors may open for you that you never expected.

Source:  ScrubsMag.com

Friday Funny

A little humor for your end of week celebration!

Cherokee LUXE line scrubs

If you haven't checked Cherokee's new LUXE line scrubs, you are missing out! 

The NEW Cherokee Luxe line delivers the perfect blend of beauty, quality and comfort with its chic styling and flowing drape.  The ultimate in comfort with incredible softness enhanced with stretch.

LUCH1067 - $30.99 - $32.99

Pull on pant with a flat center front, multiple stitch waistband and elastic from side front waist to the back. It also features two rounded pockets, a cargo pocket with multiple pin tucks and tonal color zig zag stitching. Side vents with a moderate flare leg. Inseam measures 31".  Made of easy care, yet durable 51% Poly, 46% Rayon and 3% Spandex. 

LUCH1999 - $25.99 - $27.99
This asymmetrical V-neck top features multiple pin tucks, tonal snaps and zig zag stitching. Release darts at back waist, front curved patch pockets, and side vents. Center back length is 26 1/2".  Made of easy care, yet durable 51% Poly, 46% Rayon and 3% Spandex.

“Oh, my aching back!”

You’ve heard it. You’ve probably said it. But the all-too-frequent lament by nurses can be avoided!

Yes, given the nature of your work, you’re especially vulnerable to the “occupational hazard” of lower back pain. Even seasoned nurses can get in a hurry and fail to safeguard their backs when moving a patient. So follow the simple guidelines below, put together by renowned physical therapy expert Vinod Somareddy, DPT.

Bend your knees, and keep your back straight when lifting and moving patients. Bending your knees puts the workload on the stronger muscles in the legs and eliminates some of the pressure on the weaker muscles of the back.

Take time to prepare, estimate and determine the effort needed to move someone.

Speak to the patient first to get her to work with you, so the patient is assisting rather than giving you more work. When moving the patient up in bed, for example, ask your patient to bend their knees and dig their heels in to assist with the move if they are able to do so. Be sure to convey exactly what you are going to do and what you expect out of them and allow them plenty of time to move in small movements if they have to.

Never let your center of gravity fall forward or to one side.

Avoid locking your knees; keep your knees flexed a bit to prepare against a fall.

Make use of siding boards, chair rails and other devices to assist you. Drawsheets under the patient are also great resources for moving patient side-to-side and up in bed.  Also, having a gait belt handy is always a good idea.

If it’s too difficult to transfer a patient, never be afraid to ask for help from coworkers! It is safer for you and the patient and you can return the favor next time they have a patient they need assistance with.

Better Living Corner - Neck Pain & Tension

QUESTION:  “I have neck pain and muscle tension from a recent accident. Do you have anything that will help relieve this?”


ANSWER:  Try our Deluxe Overdoor Traction Set. This device is an easy to use cervical traction therapy device and it includes head halter, pulleys, traction rope, spreader bar, S-hook and vinyl water bag with graduated scale up to 20 pounds.


Overdoor Traction gently lifts the weight of your head from your neck; you control the amount of traction. It relieves neck pain and muscle tension in your upper back, shoulders and neck associated with osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, whiplash and tension headaches.

DU534-2014-0000  Only $19.54

Top 5 Regrets of The Dying

Susie Steiner, The Guardian, Feb 1, 2012

Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called “Inspiration and Chai”, which gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom. “When we questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently,” she says “common themes surfaced again and again.”

Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

“This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called “comfort” of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.”

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

“Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.”

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitteness and resentment they carried as a result.”

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

“This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

“This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.”

What would your biggest regret be if this was the last day of your life?

Or better yet, what is your greatest regret so far, and what will you set out to achieve or change before you die?

Four Slimming Scrub Styles

Solid Color Slenderizer
Monochrome doesn’t have to mean black. Any rich color that gives definition to your outline will work. This mock wrap top from Cherokee's Workwear Core Stretch Collection is a good example. As a bonus, the style also addresses a common complaint that V-necks tend to gap and show too much cleavage. The front neckline is up a couple of inches. This means you don’t have to swelter with a T-shirt underneath to keep from accidentally flashing your coworkers or patients.

Shown Top Mock Wrap Workwear Stretch 4728 in Turquoise




Fitted Is Flattering

Too much fabric can make you look bigger than you are. A Nurse that stopped in our store says her scrubs look like a shapeless tent because she has a large bust and a small waist. One solution for this issue would be an empire waist top that offers shaping in the front instead of just in the back. Here is just one option to help flatter your shape. 

Top shown Cherokee Mock Wrap 2850C, Butterfly Fresco



Draw the Figure You Want

Contrast sides are a perfect type of detailing for giving your body the appearance of a different shape. Don’t have an hourglass waist? Your scrubs can bridge that gap with the right details. And we all know that the clothes make the woman! Here’s a Cherokee Flexibles top that creates a narrower silhouette with a contrast knit side panel.

Shown top is Scoopneck Flexibles 2983 in Happy Daisies



Try Tiny Prints

Loud prints with giant blooms are cheerful, but they can make you look like you’re taking up a lot of space. A smaller print gives your scrubs character without being overwhelming. This top from the Dickies collection combines five slimming features: darker colors, bust darts, a small print, a contoured cut and a basketweave neckline.

Shown top is a Dickies V-Neck 84754C in A World of Harmony

Price DE-CREASE, Not Increase!

I know, right? Price DE-creases rarely happen these days, but it has happened with several of our Pulse Oximeters!

Check this out:

Oximeter Plus C5 Pediatric Pulse Oximeter
Was $98.32, NOW $90.75
This child/pediatric pulse oximeter is FDA approved and measures SpO2 and pulse rate automatically. Simple & easy one-button operation. Approximately 30 hour normal operation. 10 Setting adjustable brightness. Weighs .06lbs without batteries. Very long battery life & a low battery indicator. 4 way display/bargraph reading, organic LED display for reading anywhere. C-5 comes with a 1 year limited warranty. SpO2 range 70-100%, measurement accuracy 80-100%, 2%; 70-79%, 3%. Pulse rate range 30-235bpm, measurement accuracy 30-100 2bpm; 101-235 2bpm. Sold by the each, includes lanyard and 2ea AAA batteries.

Oxi-Go Elite Pulse Oximeter

Was $56.65, NOW $52.29

Features: Dual color high resolution, easy to read OLED display, Displays SpO2, Pulse Rate and Pulse Bar, 4 Display modes for easy reading from all sides, Low power consumption, automatic power off and approx. 30 hours of normal operation, Battery low indicator, Requires 2ea AAA alkaline or rechargeable batteries (included), 10 setting adjustable brightness, Fits finger sizes from pediatric to adult, Small and lightweight design, 2 Year limited warranty, Specifications: - SpO2: measurement range 70-100%; resolution 1%; accuracy; 80%-100% - ±2%; 70%-79% - ±3%; 0%-69% unspecified. Pulse Rate: measurement range 30-235 bpm; resolution 1%; accuracy - 30-100 ±2 bpm; 101-235 ±2%.  Measures 2.3" w x 1.3" h x 1.3" d.  Weighs .06 lbs without batteries.

Oxi-Go Premier Finger Pulse Oximeter

Was $49.98, NOW $46.14

Features: Large bright display of SpO2, Pulse Rate & Pulse Bar , Lower power consumption, auto power off and approx. 30 hours of normal operation, Battery low indicator, Requires 2 AAA alkaline or rechargeable batteries, Fits finger sizes from pediatric to adult, Small & lightweight (.09 lbs without batteries), 2 Year limited warranty, Specifications: SpO2 range: 70-100%, resolution 1%, accuracy 80%-100% - ±2%; 70%-79% - ±3%; Pulse Rate range: 30-235 bpm, resolution 1bpm, accuracy 30 - 100 - ±2 bpm; 101- 235 - ±2% ; unit is 2.3" x 1.3" x 1.3"

Better Living Corner - Home Blood Pressure Units

Question:  My doctor told me to take my blood pressure at home.  Do you carry home blood pressure units?

Answer:  Yes, we offer several different models of blood pressure units to fit any budget and ability.  Here are a few of the units we offer:

Manual Inflation AKUA-705 is a manual inflation unit with advanced features and an affordable price.  30 reading memory, irregular heartbeat and more.  $39.02

Auto Inflation AKUA-767PV is a one-step auto inflation unit iwth just the push of a button.  Measures blood pressure, pulse and more.  $65.78

Auto Inflation Large Cuff AKUA-789AC fits arms from 16.5" to 23.6".  High speed inflation, 60 memory recall and programmable alarm reminders.  $133.70

Of course we offer more on our WEBSITE

Mother's Day

I wonder if kid's feel that Mother's Day is a bit of a chore?  It's something they know they should do, but if they had a choice, they would do something else.  But, after they do what they should for or with their mother, they feel good that they did something after all. 

Most mother's don't want or need much, and simply spending time with their loved ones is enough.  Heart is warmed, giggles are had, hugs flow freely and I love you's are said with kind smiles. 

Mothers, birth mothers, second mothers, adoptive mothers, friends' mothers, mothers mothers, pseudo mothers, dad-mothers, you name it, children have been mothered by more than the woman who gave birth to them.

We hope all of the Mother's of the world enjoyed their special day!

Nurses Week - THANK YOU, NURSES!

Happy Nurses week to all nurses out there, and we give you a BIG THANK YOU for all of the care and compassion you bring to those in your care!

We have found that not all Nurses Week celebrations are alike.  Many of you receive logo-smeared pens, lanyards, coffee mugs, pedometers and the like from the places they work.  Some receive catered events, only to have doctors eat all the food by the time they are able to make to the food. 

Most intentions are good, some are just plain "going through the motions". 

At the end of the day, we just want to say THANK YOU!

16 Crazy Nursing Facts from Around the World!

by ScrubsMag.com, April 19, 2012

16 Interesting Facts About Nursing Around the World

Just as there are different cultural mores and taboos across the globe, nurses conduct themselves differently from one country to another.  Some of these practices may even shock you!  Here are some little known facts about nursing around the world.

1.  You don't have to renew your license in Japan.  Once an RN, you're one for life. (You can lose your license if you break the law or "compromise the dignity of the profession.")

2.  One in every 23 Japanese nurses works more than 60 hours of overtime per month.

3.  In many parts of China, patients have to take a number to get medical attention.  They start lining up outside the hospital at 3am, and often there's a suffocating crush when the doors open.

4.  Nurses at ill-funded Chinese hospitals have to reuse supplies such as gloves and even syringes.

5.  Nursing students aren't allowed to speak to their professors in Vietnam.  They learn through lectures, textbooks and recitation drills, with no experience with real patients until they're on the job. 

6.  Hospitals in Mexico only use gloves "when necessary."

7.  After working as a nurse for only a year, Mexican nurses can choose to specialize (with no extra training) in an area of medicine, such as critical care or emergency nursing.

8.  Nurses working in Australia must pass a physical health examination, including a chest x-ray, to be able to work in the hospital.

9.  Up until just 100 years ago, sick Brazilians sought care from folk healers and family-based medicine.  It took the coffee industry and the need to control disease to port cities to overhaul the health care system (they brought in 31 North American nurses to start!).

10.  Nurses in Saudi Arabia aren't permitted to tell their royal patients when it's time for assessment or when to take medications.  Most royals travel with a private nurse - and a staff of about 20 - who see to their personal medication needs. 

11.  In Saudi Arabian hospitals, nurses can "unofficially" work only eight hours of a scheduled 12 hour shift.  During the remaining four hours, the patients are on their own. 

12.  Iraqi women who are nurses have to be home before 2pm, and are not allowed to touch men who are not their husbands or sons.  It's not uncommon for a doctor to do the nurse's work. 

13.  In Tanzania, there are only 4 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people. 

14.  In a study at a U.S. hospital, more than 80% of ED nurses believe the phase of the moon affects patients and their mental health. 

15.  48% of the nurses at a Chicago hospital believe that saying the word "quiet" aloud will jinx them and make their shift more difficult. 

16.  A significant number of doctors in the Philippines are heading back to school...to become nurses!  They then come to the U.S. to make more money as nurses than they earn as MD's in their own country. 

Timeline of the Affordable Health Care Act

Do you ever wonder what the timeline is for the new Affordable Healthcare Act?


Well, here you go!

March 23, 2010 - The Affordable Care Act Becomes Law.

Effective Jan 1, 2010 - Providing Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credits.

April 1, 2010 - Allowing States to Cover More People on Medicaid.

Year of 2010 - Relief for 4 Million Seniors Who Hit the Medicare Prescription Drug “Donut Hole”.

Many Provisions Effective Now - Cracking Down on Health Care Fraud.

June 1, 2010 - Expanding Coverage for Early Retirees.

July 1, 2010 - Providing Access to Insurance for Uninsured Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions.

July 1, 2010 - Putting Information Online.

September 23, 2010

- Extending Coverage for Young Adults.

- Providing Free Preventative Care.

- Prohibiting Insurance Companies from

Rescinding Coverage.

- Appealing Insurance Company Deci-

sions.

- Eliminating Lifetime Limits on Insurance

Coverage.

- Regulating Annual Limits on Insurance

Coverage.

- Prohibiting Denying Coverage of Children Based on Pre-Existing Conditions.

Beginning in 2010 - Holding Insurance Companies Accountable for Unreasonable Rate Hikes.

Effective 2010 - Rebuilding the Primary Care Workforce.

October 2010 - Establishing Consumer Assistance Programs in the States.

Begins 2010 - Preventing Disease and Illness.

Effective 2010 - Strengthening Community Health Centers.

Effective 2010 - Payments for Rural Health Care Providers.

January 1, 2011

- Prescription Drug Discounts.

- Free Preventative Care for Seniors.

- Bringing Down Health Care Premiums.

- Addressing Overpayments to Big Insurance Companies and Strengthening Medicare Advantage.

- Improving Health Care Quality and Effi

ciency.

- Improving Care for Seniors after They

Leave the Hospital.

October 1, 2011

- New Innovations to Bring Down Costs.

- Increasing Access to Services at Home and in the Community.

January 1, 2012 - Encouraging Integrated Health Systems.

March 2012 - Understanding and Fighting Health Disparities.

October 1, 2012

- Reducing Paperwork and Administrative

Costs.

- Linking Payment to Quality Outcomes.

January 1, 2013

- Improving Preventative Health Coverage.

- Increasing Medicaid Payments to Pri

mary Care Doctors.

- Expanded Authority to Bundle Payments.

October 1, 2013 - Additional Funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

January 1, 2014

- Establishing Affordable Insurance Ex

changes.

- Promoting Individual Responsibility.

- Ensuring Free Choice.

- Increasing Access to Medicaid.

- Makes Care More Affordable.

- Ensuring Coverage for Individuals Par

ticipating in Clinical Trials.

- Eliminating Annual Limits on Insurance

Coverage.

- No Discrimination Due to Pre-Existing

Conditions or Gender.

- Increasing Small Business Health Insur

ance Tax Credit.

January 1, 2015 - Paying Physicians Based on Value Not Volume.

Source: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/

Greatest Gift of All

Courtesy of ScrubsMag.com, by Nicole Lehr • July 31, 2010

What’s the greatest gift you could imagine receiving? Some would say a winning lottery ticket. Others would argue that the car of their dreams or house they’ve always wanted would suffice. And some would stray from the material world and deem that marrying your soul mate or seeing your kids grow up into successful adults would be the greatest gifts of all.

What about the gift of life itself? I’ve never worked in labor and delivery, but I’ve always been envious of those nurses who do. They are constantly bringing new life into the world and seemingly experiencing this great gift that parents receive as they are handed their new baby for the first time.

I treasure our profession because it allows such an opportunity to experience life’s greatest gifts nearly every work day. After some deliberation, I decided that, similar to a labor and delivery experience, children on my unit are handed the gift of life a second time around when they go through open heart surgery.

I have always been intrigued by heart transplants. The concept of placing a stranger’s heart into another body is complicated, amazing and nearly miraculous. The hardest thing I had to overcome when I first started my job was getting past the sad fact that another child had to lose his or her life in order for this organ to be available. I have accepted this as a professional, but to this day I’m not sure I would be able to accept these very raw facts as openly as a parent of a child receiving a heart transplant.

Some of my most emotional and touching experiences as a nurse thus far have been related to heart transplant recipients. I have seen blue babies come out of surgery a new robust shade of pink in mere hours. I have listened to a child who didn’t eat for months ask for a meal of chicken fingers and macaroni a few short days after her transplant. Then I proceeded to watch her finish her meal.

I have witnessed a boy who couldn’t walk to the bathroom without getting short of breath come back to visit a year after his transplant to brag about the sports he is playing. I have cried with a parent when they were told the transplant was a last-ditch effort and the chances of rejection were high, and later cried with the parent when the little girl took her first steps two months after the transplant. I have witnessed a teenage girl at camp show her scar to her friends, a scar that had been re-entered three times with each subsequent transplant she had received.

A mother, who I am very close with, recently shared with me that she received a letter from the parents of the child who her son’s organ donor. This letter reached the mother’s hands three years after her son had his heart transplant. It detailed the donor child’s name, some hobbies he enjoyed and why everyone who came into contact with him loved him. The mother told me how sad she felt for this family, but she realized now how perfect of a match the heart really was–regardless of blood type and antibodies–because her son was very similar to the boy. This letter embodies an example of the gift of life being given a second time around.

Although I would love a million dollars or even a year-long vacation around the world, I still believe the greatest gift one can receive is life. What other profession outside the medical realm allows you to see this gift being given on such an intimate level on nearly a daily basis? Whether through heart transplants, a recovering trauma patient, or witnessing the birth of a child, the nursing world is filled with life. People sometimes say it takes a special type of person to be a nurse, but I feel confident in saying it’s the profession that is special and I’m honored to be a part of it

Spring/Summer New Arrivals 2012

Its time for our new Spring/Summer Arrivals and these new scrubs do not dissappoint!



Check out these new Koi Bridgette Prints in Revelation, Drizzle and Graceful. LUKO129 - $24.99 - $30.99

















We also have new Koi Kathryn prints in Crete and Lemoncello. LUKO115PR - $24.99

















This a fun new solid top from Koi, the Carina comes in several great colors. LUKO178 - $25.99










To shop all of our New Arrivals, click HERE