As a nurse with a number of male patients, it’s important to stay up to date on prostate cancer treatment options. You should also learn more about the symptoms that indicate prostate cancer, as many men can go years without knowing that they have are affected. Here are a few of the common—and not so common—symptoms that you should share with your patients so that prostate cancer can be treated as early as possible.

Blood in urine or semen. Men with advanced prostate cancer will often notice blood in their semen or urine. This, of course signifies a health problem, but most men don’t realize that cancer is the issue. Often, this symptom is the only one that men with prostate cancer experience. Encourage your male patients to visit the doctor right away at the first sign of urine or semen blood.

Leg swelling. Inflammation in the legs, particularly the upper legs, is also a sign of prostate cancer. This could be an indication that the cancerous cells are making their way to the legs and causing even more physical abnormalities. This is a symptom that sometimes occurs in the mid- to late stages of prostate cancer, although some men will experience leg swelling as a sign that the prostate cancer is in its early stages.

Joint and bone pain. Pain and discomfort in the bones or joints can also mean prostate cancer for some men. Some male patients, especially middle-aged and elderly men, may attribute their bone pain to osteoporosis, or just “getting old.” But, if the pain becomes persistent and severe, prostate cancer may be the problem.

Pelvic pain.  If a male patient complains about pain and swelling in the pelvic area, you should ask your physician if you can run a test for prostate cancer—especially if the patient has complained about this more than once. The pain in the pelvis could be a sign that the cancer cells are attempting to spread and multiply in this part of the body—this should be treated right away to prevent further harmful effects of prostate cancer.

A pregnant woman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you work as a nurse in an OBGYN office, your patients are counting on your expertise to guide them through the stages of pregnancy. A woman’s body changes drastically during the 40 weeks that she’s carrying a child (although some women are pregnant for longer or shorter than 40 weeks). Your nursing expertise will help expectant mothers know how to be prepared for the changes their bodies will undergo during pregnancy. You can also offer practical advice for dealing with these changes.

First trimester. During the first trimester, or the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, a woman is likely to feel extremely tired, and has the urge to sleep at all hours of the day. To increase energy, you can recommend a vitamin C supplement, or green tea, since some physicians maintain that coffee isn’t ideal for pregnant women. A woman in the early stages of pregnancy may also have nausea and extremely swollen breasts, as well as frequent headaches. Significant weight gain or weight loss is also common during the first trimester, as a result of the fluctuations of a woman’s hormones.

Second trimester. During weeks 13 to 28 of pregnancy, or the second trimester, patients are likely to complain about back and stomach pains. A painkiller that is safe for pregnant women is best to treat these ailments. You can also suggest that your patients take a warm bath to soothe aching muscles. Some of your patients will also report itching in the belly, hands and feet. Inform women that this is a normal symptom of pregnancy, and is one of the body’s ways of adjusting the nervous system to accommodate a growing fetus. Dark patches of skin, usually on the forehead, cheeks, nose or around the nipple, are also common in the second trimester.

Third trimester. The last trimester of a woman’s pregnancy can include symptoms like very tender breasts, which also occur in the first trimester for some patients. Heartburn and indigestion are common for some women as well. Suggest that your patients consume fruits and beverages like oatmeal, applesauce or ginger tea to soothe heartburn and aid digestion. During this phase of pregnancy, warn your patients that false contractions will likely occur, and that timing the contractions, especially in the eighth and ninth months of pregnancy, will help to determine if the woman is in labor.

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As a hospice nurse, you deal with the death of patients often. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need someone to talk to when a patient that you’ve been caring for for years or months passes away. Many nurses focus on comforting the families of the patient, but don’t take time to deal with their own feelings. Here are some suggestions to take into consideration so that you can deal with grief effectively.

Make sure to spend time alone.  Even though you have a hectic schedule and long hours, it’s essential that you take some time for yourself while you’re grieving. Ignoring your feelings and throwing yourself into your work during this time could lead to burnout and intense stress, which could make the grieving process worse. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, take a walk around the hospital to help process what has happened. Write a letter to the patient who has passed to help work out your feelings. Or, simply enjoy a cup of coffee while listening to your favorite song to help clear your head, so you’ll be better equipped to assist other patients.

Join a local support group for nurses who are in similar professions. These individuals will likely be able to empathize with you during your time of grief, and offer practical tips for getting through this difficult time. Going to support group meetings will give you the chance to talk about your feelings with people who understand, which will help you to grieve in a healthy way. Support groups also allow you to provide comfort and a listening ear to others who are mourning the loss of a patient. And when you focus on helping others, you often are healed in the process.

Talk to someone you trust. If a support group isn’t available in your area, you should still talk to someone that you can honestly confide. The hospital chaplain, or a fellow nurse who also cared for the late patient, may help you to sort through your feelings by providing a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. Or, talk to your family members about what you’re going through at work. After all, you’re going to need support at home as well to get through the grieving process.

You may want to reach out to the family of the patient who has passed away. Let them know that you’re available to talk, or that you’d be happy to refer them to counselors or therapists who will help them grieve in a healthy way. Depending on how close you are to the family, you can also provide a hot meal, a bouquet of flowers, or a sentimental greeting card expressing your sympathy. As a nurse, it’s natural for you to care for and tend to others. So when you do what comes naturally to you, you may find that working through your own grief, while still challenging, is a little easier.

If you’re part of the hospital administrative staff, you probably know that there are several complaints and grievances that the nurses at your medical facility have. In order to reduce these complaints and create a more positive working environment, there are several things you can do to make sure that your nursing staff feels valued and appreciated. Even if you can’t change all of the unsatisfactory aspects of the hospital or clinic, you can lead and manage in a way that makes the facility pleasant and efficient. This tactic will inevitably show itself in the way that the nurses care for the patients that walk through your doors. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Don’t assign too many administrative tasks. Unless you’re overseeing an administrative staff, you should assign filing, paperwork and phone tasks sparingly among the nurses. If possible, hire an administrative nurse who is specifically at the hospital for secretarial purposes. Nurses want to know that the schooling they went through actually holds merit at your medical facility. You can show this by expecting them to the do the jobs they were trained to do, whether that includes conducting lab tests, performing minor medical procedures on patients, or consulting with physicians.

Organize appreciation events. A hospital or clinic schedule can be extremely busy, so it’s easy for nurses to feel burnt out. You can help to combat this by organizing nurse appreciation outings, or by holding small events at work. This lets your nurses know that you wouldn’t be a successful organization without them. For instance, bring breakfast to the break room once a month. Include energy-boosting foods like fresh fruit, raw nuts, and instant oatmeal. Or, organize a fancy dinner for your nursing staff to give them a chance to enjoy an event out of their scrubs. You can even get tickets for nurses to take their families to local events like the circus or fair. Small gestures like this will make nurses much more motivated to take on extra work when necessary, and to give patients their best.

Extend common courtesy. Yes, nurses are at the hospital to work. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t thank them for a job well done. Take time out at each staff meeting to thank the nurses who go out of their way to make a patient smile or comfort a family. Acknowledge the nurses who do the extra cleaning in the hospital to keep the facility looking its best. When you’re interacting with nurses throughout the day, saying things like “I really appreciate the work you’re doing” or “Thanks for stepping in at the last minute and taking care of _________” goes a long way. Even if you can’t increase your nursing staff’s salary or provide a number of extra perks, you can be courteous and verbally appreciative.

When you’re working your shift as a nurse, you’re often on your feet or tending to patients for hours at  a time. This will naturally take a toll on your body and cause fatigue. It can be a challenge to get enough rest each night (or day, depending on your shift). Here are some practical suggestions that you can incorporate into your day to ensure that you’re getting proper rest, and feel alert during work hours.

Don’t eat or drink anything right before bed. Eat dinner at least an hour before you’re ready to go to bed. This gives your body time to digest your meal, and lessens the likelihood of experiencing that heavy feeling in your stomach that makes it difficult to get to sleep. Drinking anything other than water can spike your blood sugar levels slightly, and take your body out of relaxation mode. Scrubs Magazine even suggests brushing your teeth two hours prior to bedtime, so that you’ll be less likely to eat or drink anything before you retire for the night.

Try to sleep for about three-fourths of the time you’ll be at work. Most nurses work for 12 hours at a time. So, you should try to get about 8 or 9 hours of sleep before clocking in. This will give you the energy you need to administer the proper care to patients. Adequate sleep can also prevent self-injury at work. The Associated Professional Sleep Society conducted a study on 536 Canadian nurses, and reported in 2011 that these nurses got about 6 hours of sleep a night, even though most nursing professionals work 12-hour shifts. One-fourth of the personal injuries these nurses experienced at work were due to lack of sleep, and there was a 16 percent occurrence of patient injuries or near-injuries, directly related to fatigue.

Take some time to wind down after work. If at all possible, take a few minutes to decompress after your nursing shift. Take a short walk around the hospital, or make a cup of tea and read a few pages from your favorite book after work. This will make it easier for you to fall asleep when it’s actually time for bed. It’s also important not to force yourself to sleep; this could cause more stress and frustration, making it take even longer for you to settle down and get a good night’s rest.

If you’re sure you want to work in healthcare, and are seriously considering becoming a registered nurse, it may be best to receive training as a nurse’s aide. In this position, you’ll be responsible for assisting nurses and other hospital staff and creating an experience for patients that is as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

Education

Becoming a nurse’s assistant is usually the first step toward achieving Registered Nurse status. Before you can register for a Nurse’s Aide course, you’ll need to complete high school and obtain your diploma or GED. You’ll also be expected to take a drug test—the nursing school you choose will also do a background check on you. Next, you should choose a technical school in your area that offers the specialized training you want for becoming a certified nurse’s assistant (CNA). Some healthcare facilities and hospitals also offer CNA training, but it’s important to read through the contract thoroughly before agreeing to take the classes. Some hospitals require that you work at their location, at least for a specified amount of time, so be sure that you agree to this before getting started.

Basic Duties

Depending on the facility where you work, you may be asked to lift patients, and provide basic checkup tasks, like taking a patient’s temperature or blood pressure. A nurse’s assistant also empties bedpans and changes hospital bed sheets. You should learn about the conditions of each patient, and know how to read medical records, so that you can report any changes in a patient’s symptoms to the nurse or doctor. If a patient needs physical or respiratory therapy, you may be called on to help with these processes as well.

Ideal Personality Traits

As a nurse’s assistant, you’ll need to have an outgoing personality, since you’ll be talking to patients and family members on a daily basis. Everyone who comes in contact with you should feel at ease and informed, so you’ll need to give off a friendly yet professional disposition. A natural tendency to care for others is also necessary for this position. It should be second nature for you to want to make patients feel as though they are truly being attended to while in the medical facility.

Salary

You can expect to make anywhere between $21-$32,000 a year as a nurse’s assistant. Your salary will likely depend on the amount of training you’ve received, and how long you’ve been on the job. According to Salary.com, the average yearly income for nurse’s assistants in the U.S. is $26,402 as of February 2012.

In a hospital or clinic setting, your medical scrubs should serve as a sign of comfort and reassurance to patients and their family members. As more and more hospitals are gaining the reputation of being “provider-friendly”, it’s up to you and your fellow staff members to create an environment where patients feel that their questions are being answered with authority and concern. It’s also essential for loved ones of those receiving care to feel at ease when waiting on treatment results. While you may not be able to make the corporate financial decisions that are necessary to keep a hospital running, there are several simple you can incorporate into your workday to make patients your top priority.

Maintain a quiet environment. Peace and tranquility are of the utmost importance in a hospital. Instead of shouting across the hallway to your staff members, whisper or speak in hushed tones. This keeps those in the waiting room from feeling alarmed, and reduces the panic that many patients may feel while resting in their rooms. Silencing the doors and drawers at desks makes the hospital especially quiet as well, and speaking in low, comforting tones to those receiving services can make a stressful or frightening situation just a little more bearable. Many hospitals are also working to provide single rooms for each patient to reduce the spread of infection and protect the patient’s privacy.

Incorporate art into the patient and waiting room space. Add eye-catching color to the privacy curtains in the hospital rooms, or attach artistic prints to them. The visual appeal can help to boost your patients’ moods and make them feel better about staying in the hospital for extended periods of time. Instead of making the waiting room appear stark and sterile, add striking prints that aren’t too overwhelming to the walls. A pop of color in a waiting room filled with neutral shades like tan or off-white can make the space a little cheerier. If your healthcare facility doesn’t allow such changes, order colorful scrubs to wear to work—the pop of color could make a significant different in improving the health of your patients. For instance, red or orange scrubs promote energy and an upbeat attitude.

Make adjustments to hospital attire. Consider talking to your hospital administration about changing the design of hospital gowns. Many patients feel that the gowns are embarrassing to wear, as they expose too much and don’t offer proper support. If you can’t do much about what those under your care wear while they’re in the hospital, make sure that your medical scrubs are in the best condition possible. Clean, pressed medical uniforms and medical footwear in top condition will make you appear professional and more reliable.

A young couple came to me full of hope that I could do something for their newborn baby. As I examined him, my heart sank. His condition was incurable. Can you imagine my feelings when I told these new parents that their son would never see? As I dismissed them from my office, I felt overwhelmed with emotion.

But a moment later my next patient was upon me expecting a welcoming smile! That’s what I find stressful.”—An ophthalmic surgeon in South America.

Patients don’t usually visit consulting rooms to consider their doctor’s problems. A patient’s mind is filled with his own need for help. Consequently, few people realize how much stress doctors live with.

Of course, everyone has to cope with stress, and the medical profession is not the only stressful occupation. However, since
nearly everyone becomes involved in doctor-patient relationships in one way or another, understanding the stress doctors live with and the effects it can have on them is worthwhile.

Doctors start learning to live with stress early in life as they struggle for a place in medical school. But when medical training starts, it is usually an unforgettable jolt to the emotions. It is the beginning of a process that can change the medical student’s feelings, his very character.

Medical Training—A Shocking Experience

The clinical training in a hospital.. Most people are not forced into contemplating life’s brevity until perhaps middle age.

But medical students come face-to-face with incurable disease and death in their youth. One described his first experiences in the hospital as “disgusting to the point of revulsion.” It can also be quite shocking to students in both rich and poor countries when they first realize how often patients are denied needed treatment because there is not enough money.

How do newly qualified doctors cope with the stress? Medical staff often have to distance themselves emotionally from patients by depersonalizing them. Instead of referring to the person needing attention, the staff may say, “Doctor, there’s a broken leg in cubicle two.”

This may sound comical if you don’t understand the reason for such a description.

Compassion Fatigue

Doctors are trained as scientists, but for many the greater part of their work consists of talking to patients. Some physicians feel unprepared for the emotion of doctor-patient relationships. As noted in the introduction, one of the most difficult situations for a doctor is breaking bad news. Some have to do it daily. People in crisis often need to give vent to their anguish, and physicians are expected to listen. Dealing with anxious, frightened people can be so tiring that some physicians suffer a type of burnout now called compassion fatigue.

Does the stress ease with the passing of years? Seniority usually brings more responsibility. Often life-and-death decisions have to be made instantly, perhaps on the basis of inadequate information. “When I was young, it didn’t worry me,” explains a British doctor,
“just as it doesn’t worry youngsters to drive dangerously. But with age, you value life more dearly. Now, treatment decisions make me more anxious than ever.”

How does stress affect doctors? The habit of distancing oneself emotionally from patients can carry over into family relationships. Avoiding that tendency can be challenging. Some physicians are outstandingly compassionate in helping patients with their feelings. But how far can they go without suffering compassion fatigue? This is the doctor’s dilemma.

In Vancouver two University of British Columbia medical students are suiting up into their medical uniforms to learn real-life scenarios by educating themselves in hospital settings, as opposed to the classroom. Dorothy Kuk and Nick Leinweber both third-year students have been selected to participate in the medical programs year long interacting community clerkship.

They will be learning at Kooteny Boundary Regional Hospital, which has become the teaching hospital for this pilot program. They hope to expand in the future.

Leinweber stated, “It’s a big change from being in a lecture hall for five days a week to a hospital and having patient contact every day. It opens up a whole new world of procedural skills and it’s hands on as opposed to interacting with a screen and lecture in large classrooms.”

This differs from the traditional block rotation, because this program allows the students to work in different departments of the hospital seeing the care given from diagnosis to treatment and ultimately the follow up procedures. This allows the now official medical scrub wearing students the chance to bounce between different areas of expertise within the hospital.

The transition from classroom to real world situations has been a positive learning experience for the two medical students.

“It’s like learning the art part now besides just the theory of how do you balance all the multiple issues because you’re dealing with a real person,” said Leinweber. “They’re not a test that you’re going through and trying to understand.”

Kuk has learned a new element that the classroom couldn’t prepare her for, the emotional connection she’s experienced with her patients.

“Going from textbooks to seeing real patients in pain or who are dying or suffering in anyway, it can be quite emotionally taxing sometimes,” she said. “It seems like a fine art that all of the doctors here have, where they can empathize but at the same time be very professional.”

The partnership between UBC and the hospital has proven to be a great opportunity for this students to gain additional experience. It is estimated that by 2013, 32 students will be involved in the program.

You want to look good, and that’s normal. You want to be comforted when you’re anxious or depressed. There’s nothing wrong with that either. However, there is a real danger  to it as well.

Let’s take a closer look at anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Each of these disorders has distinct symptoms, but all of them involve an abnormal attitude toward food. If you see yourself in any of the descriptions that follow, be assured that help is available. You can get better!

ANOREXIA. No matter how slim she may be, when a girl with anorexia looks in the mirror, she sees an obese person. To lose weight, she will resort to extreme measures. “I became compulsive about counting calories,” says one sufferer. “I carefully planned what I would eat for the week, skipping meals and exercising excessively whenever I thought I’d consumed too many calories. I took up to six laxatives a day.”

Before long, symptoms of anorexia start to show. Weight loss is a common sign, but the sufferer may also experience hair loss, dry skin, fatigue, and loss of bone density. Menstrual periods can become irregular or even cease for several consecutive months.

Perhaps these symptoms sound harmless, but make no mistake—Anorexia is life threatening. One study found that in time, up to 10 percent of sufferers die from their disorder, usually as a result of organ failure or other problems related to improper nutrition.

BULIMIA. Instead of avoiding food, the girl with bulimia binges, consuming as many as 15,000 calories in just two hours! Then she purges what she has eaten, usually by making herself vomit or by taking laxatives or diuretics.

Bingeing is most often carried on in secret. “After school, if I came home before anyone else, I usually binged,” says one girl. “I was careful to hide the evidence.” After the binge, however, guilt set in. “I would feel terrible about myself,” she says, “but I knew that I could easily erase my actions. I’d go upstairs, vomit, and feel not only relieved but also empowered.”

Despite any seeming benefit, purging is dangerous. Laxative misuse weakens the intestinal lining and can lead to inflammation or infection. Frequent vomiting can result in dehydration, tooth decay, damage to the esophagus, and even heart failure.

BINGE EATING. Like the bulimic, a binge eater will consume a large amount of food. The difference is that she will not purge. As a result, the binge eater may be overweight. Some will, however, starve themselves after a binge or engage in rigorous exercise. Sometimes when weight is maintained in this way, family and friends remain oblivious to the binger’s plight.

Like anorexics and bulimics, binge eaters have an unhealthy attitude toward food. One girl says of herself and other sufferers: “Food is our personal, secret friend—maybe our only friend.”
Another says: “While bingeing, nothing else seems to matter. Food seems all important—it’s comforting—and then the binge is followed by feelings of guilt and depression.”

Even without purging, bingeing is dangerous. It can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and a number of other maladies. It can also take a heavy emotional toll.

Could It Happen to You?

Of course, most people who want to lose weight or get into shape do not have an eating disorder. Still, after considering the above, you might wonder if you are heading in that direction.
Ask yourself:

Am I ashamed or embarrassed about my habits or rituals related to food?

Do I hide my eating habits from others?

Has food become the biggest part of my life?

Do I weigh myself more than once a day?

Am I willing to take risks to lose weight?

Have I experimented with self-induced vomiting, laxatives, or diuretics?

Have my eating habits affected my social life? For example, do I prefer to be alone rather than with others so that I can binge or purge in secret?

If your answers to these questions indicate that you have a problem,Take Action Now! The first step is to admit to yourself that you have a problem.You might find that you are reluctant to leave your eating disorder behind. You may have become dependent on it, much like an addiction.

Talk to a parent or other adult who is in a position to help you. Caring adults will not shame you.

Admittedly, the road to recovery is not easy. In some cases professional assistance is needed. The important thing is to take action. That’s what one bulimic girl resolved to do. “One day,” she says, “I began to realize that purging was actually controlling me. Yet I wasn’t sure I could stop. Finally, I did the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I asked for help.”

You can do the same!