Alternative Medicine :: essays research papers fc

Throughout the last few years alternative medicine has drawn a ton of attention towards itself. New ideas and new styles of this medicine are introduced into the media everyday. Despite all the attention to this new trend what do we actually know about it? Is it safe? What studies have been done? In a time when people are looking for a change and living life to the fullest these new methods of medicine seem to be just the answer we’re looking for. Conventional medical practitioners say that this new style of medicine is bogus and is dangerous because there is no solid evidence it actually works. Although alternative medical doctors say this kind of medicine cures even better without using the pills, drugs, and shots that conventional medicine uses. Despite the argument between these two sides the best possible cure for ones self should be instead of choosing a specific method to help yourself use a combination of the two to help heal. This subject of alternative medicine relates to many people in today’s world. The media, the government, and even parents and children have something to do with this vast new form of medicine. Alternative medicine continues to grow every year, which makes it a very important issue in our society, in fact 40% of American use some form of herbal or other alternative medicine in the world today (Jonas). This fact just shows how widely used this method is. According to a survey of 1,539 adults in 1990 and 2,055 in 1997, use of at least one type of alternative therapy during the previous year jumped from 33.8 percent in 1990 to 42.1 percent in 1997 (Mann). These facts show just how fast alternative medicine is growing. The option to ignore the use of alternative medicine is gone. For how much this new method of medicine is growing it is almost impossible to overlook. The subject of alternative medicine is a two-sided argument. On one side you have the conventional or western medical practitioners and on the other side you have the alternative medical doctors. Both sides have a strong argument towards the other. Is it that conventional physicians are not informed regarding alternative techniques, or is it that alternative physicians don’t know how the body actually works (Lin)? What my question is, is why can’t both these medicines be used together? Dr. Joseph Jacobs, a former director of the NIH office of Alternative Medicine and a Yale trained physician believe that if used properly these two styles of medicine combined together can work far better than one alone (Langone).

Nursing Practice Act Essay

I came to realize just how fare we have come. My article includes information on the scope of practice for the nursing profession. The’re alson many different responsabilities of nurses, and the exams and prcedures they go though to become licensed are something else. There are a lot of things that a person can do to lose their license. The’re are also many avenues you can take in nursing, there are a lot of opertunities to grow. The definition of Nursing Practice is to provide individuals and groups with nursing care requiring specialized knowledge, judgment, and skill derived from the principles of biological, physical, behavioral, social, and nursing sciences. A nurses scope of practice focuses on identifing patterns of human responses to actual or potential health problems amenable to a nursing regimen. They are to execute a nursing regimen through the selection, performance, management, and evaluation of nursing actions, assessing health status, and to provide health counseling and health teaching. The scope of practice includes administering medicatons, treatments, and to execute regimens that are by authorized personal. The scope of practice also includes teaching, administering , supervising, delegating, and evaluating nursing practice. The standards related to the RN’s responsibilities in implementing the nursing process and as a member of the nursing profession is to be knowledgable in your work, always use the best possible route, and always make informed decisions. An advanced practice nurse is a registered nurse who has been certified under a certain chapter to practice in a certain field, by the board of nursing. They have certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse- midwife, and certified nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners have to also obtain prescriptive authority, which grants them the authority to prescribe medication. The nursing licensure requirements for a new graduate is first to send in an application for the licensure. The application has to include evidence that the applicant has completed requirements of a nursing education program approved by the board or approved by another jurisdiction’s board that regulates nurse licensure. The application will also include information requied by the board. There will be an application fee required by section 4723. 08 of the revised code. You also have to pass a background check that was brought into effect after June 1, 2003. The board of nursing may revoke, suspend or refuse to grant a nursing license, if a person is found by the board to have committed fruad in passing an examination required to obtain the license. A nurse can also have there license suspended or revoked if caught selling, giving away, or administering drugs or therapeutic devices for other than legal and legitimate therapeutic purposes. To renew a license that was issued for a two-year renewal period you have to have 24 hours of continuing nursing education. At least one hour of the education must be directly related to the statutes and rules pertainig to the practice of nursing in this state. The law and rule that sets the requirements for schools of nursing is section 4723. 07. Section 4723. 07 explains the different precedures and precautions that have to be taught to maintain proper sanitation and cleanliness. Handeling and disposal of needles and other sharp instruments. Wearing and disposal of gloves and other protective garments and devices. All in all the responsibilities of the Ohio state Board of Nursing is to assume and exercise all the powers and perform all the duties required of it by chapter 4723. In the nursing world everything has to go through the Board of nursing and they decide everything by vote. The board of nursing follows specific guidelines that are all mentioned with in the Nursing Practice Act and it is constantly changing. To continue on into advanced practice nursing you have to aquire your masters degree. It is also illegal to call yourself an RN with out being licensed but the board of nursing. The Nursing practice Act is where you want to look to find out what you have to do to get certain licenses and certifications.

Abdominal Pain Critique

‘Assessment of the patient with acute abdominal pain’ is an article published in Standard Nursing in 2006, written by Elaine Cole, Antonia Lynch, and Helen Cugnoni. In this article, Elaine Cole, Antonia Lynch, and Helen Cugnoni provide an overview of how nurses can thoroughly perform an assessment of abdominal pain in adults. For this reason, it is important that nurses obtain an accurate comprehensive patient history and assessment. This article also provides an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the abdomen, the various causes associated, and vital questions to properly perform an assessment of the abdominal pain. Summary of Article Abdominal pain is the one of the most common reasons that people seek help for medical care (Cole, Lynch, & Cugnoni, 2006). The abdomen is the largest cavity in the body and contains many organs and structures. The abdomen consists of the stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, small intestine, and large intestine. For assessment purposes the abdomen is divided into four quadrants: left upper quadrant, left lower quadrant, right upper quadrant, and right lower quadrant. Abdominal pain has many causes, from simple to complex presentations (Cole et al. , 2006). Therefore, it is essential for nurses to understand the anatomy of the abdomen and be able to distinguish between acute and non-acute conditions to provide an effective treatment plan. According to Cole, Lynch, and Cugnoni (2006), It may be difficult to establish the cause of the abdominal pain because of the diversity of clinical signs and symptoms. A brief description of the common causes of abdominal pain and related symptoms are further discussed. Just to name a few causes, for example, appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix that often has a colicky pain around the umbilicus or epigastrium; symptoms include vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, or occasional diarrhea (Cole et al. , 2006). Another, cholesystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder with a constant colicky pain in the right upper quadrant; symptoms include anorexia, nausea, vomiting and fever (Cole et al. , 2006). In addition, hepatitis is an infectious disease affecting the liver. There are several different types of hepatitis but the most common is hepatitis A; the pain is usually in the right upper quadrant with anorexia, jaundice, dark urine and pale stools, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, pyrexia, and urticaria (Cole et al. , 2006). Furthermore, a urinary tract infection (UTI) is also a very common cause associated with abdominal pain. Women are most prone in developing this infection. UTI’s are often characterized by suprapubic discomfort, dysuria (pain or burning during micturition), frequency, hematuria, urgency and cloudy urine (Cole et al. , 2006). In order for a patient to receive the appropriate care needed for the abdominal pain, nurses must complete an accurate and detailed history and assessment. According to Cole et al. (2006) a systemic approach to perform an assessment should be used so that vital information is not overlooked. Questions should be asked concerning: pain, associated symptoms, past medical history, medication history, family history, and a social history. Questions regarding pain should include the position, radiation, quality, character, relieving and exacerbating factors, severity, timing and duration. Additionally, other questions to ask would be pertaining to appetite or weight change, bowel habits, and nausea and vomiting, and urinary symptoms. As well as, a complete past medical history, current medications, social and family history should be included. Regardless of the symptoms or diagnosis, all patients should have nothing to eat or drink in case any operative interventions are needed. The physical assessment should present the patient’s vital signs: temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. Further, diagnostics should consist of an electrocardiogram, urinalysis, lab test, and fluids. Patients may benefit from non-pharmacological methods of pain control such as positioning, warm compresses, and anxiety reduction through reassurance; nevertheless, analgesia will be prescribed to relieve pain and distress (Cole et al. , 2006). Also, anti-emetics are usually accompanying the pain medication to relieve any nausea and vomiting. Evaluation of the Article This is an interesting article, presenting an outline of an assessment of a patient with abdominal pain. The title clearly defines what the article is all about. The focused population, the major outcome being measured, and a brief description of the possible causes are all included in the title. The focused population here is adults experiencing abdominal pain. The major outcome being measured is the nurses overall understanding of anatomy and physiology and a thorough history taking and a brief description pointing out the most common causes of abdominal pain in a clinical setting. The author emphasizes on the most common causes of abdominal pain, as well as to assist nurses in the history taking and physical assessment. The article provides valuable knowledge of the assessment strategy in an organized fashion and a clear manner. However, the authors did not present any evidence, such as real cases or statistics. The purpose of this article is practical, interesting, and relevant. Practical since the assessment tools can most definitely be useful in the everyday use of health providers, so it can be easily adopted into nursing practice. Interesting as it goes into detail about the numerous possible causes and symptoms of abdominal pain. Relevant since it applies to nurses and other health providers in an acute clinical setting. The content discussed in the article will benefit nurses and practitioners. The summary in this article was able to provide me with an excellent overview of the topic encouraging me to want to read on and on. Also, the summary was short and concise. After reading this article, a deeper insight into understanding the anatomy and physiology of the abdomen is developed. The authors did a great job providing a table displaying the organs in the abdominal cavity, which was refreshing to one’s memory while reading about each possible cause of abdominal pain, thus allowing the article to be easily read. Additionally, the pneumonic used for the causes of pancreatitis is a great tool to have for future reference. The research in this article is sufficient in providing information on the health assessment and does not need additional research. Lastly, many terms mentioned in the article were well defined, but there were spelling errors in the article, pointing out a few words such as localized, generalized, feces, characterized, and summarized. Overall the article was good, yet, it could benefit from some improvement. Conclusion  This article provides a practical overview of the many abdominal pain causes, from acute to non-acute conditions. Nurses play a key role in collecting an accurate patient history and assessment of a patient presenting with abdominal pain. Abdominal pain is the most common reason people seek medical help and can reflect physical discomfort. Therefore knowledge of the many causes of abdominal pain and management is vital. Furthermore, it is essential that nurses understand the anatomy and physiology plus the symptoms related to abdominal pain.