Nurses Week reminds us all to salute our favorite caregivers

Once again, we find ourselves at May 6, Florence Nightingale’s birthday and the kickoff for Nurses Week 2017!

The American Nurses Association has, as usual, lots going on including a free webinar, “A Nurse’s Guide to Preventing Compassion Fatigue, Moral Distress, and Burnout,” which is a great way for those who spend so much time and energy providing great care to learn about stepping back and making sure their own needs are met as well.

This year’s theme is the “Year of the Healthy Nurse,” so in addition to the webinar, nurses (and those who love them) are encouraged to explore all the ways to maintain the proper balance with body, mind and spirit.

First up, it’s good to be aware of all the things that can cause nurse burnout. Even the most devoted caregiver can, if not careful, get run down quickly. You know what they say, nurses are the worst patients! Here’s a few tips to avoid getting worn thin:

Take breaks. No one, nurse or otherwise, can run full steam for 8+ hours. Meals are essential — and sit down for them, don’t grab something and gobble it while running from one task to the next. And take 5 minutes every so often to just relax; maybe even do some short breathing or relaxation exercises.

You can’t do it all. No matter how great the intention, no one person can heal a hospital full of sick people, make all the family and visitors happy, or make HCAHPS scores magically rise. A positive attitude and a willingness to work hard will see you through the day, but know that you’re only one person. Rely on the team!

Decompress. And speaking of the team … make sure to talk to people. Whether it’s a supervisor, coworker, spouse, therapist or friend, have someone (or a group of someone’s) available as a friendly, nonjudgmental sounding board. Sometimes your best answers to ongoing problems come when you speak the issue out loud, and get some input.

Being a nurse is more challenging than ever before — but also more exciting! From nursing informatics to assisting with in-hospital clinical trials, as well as the growing number of CNO and supervisory positions throughout healthcare, there are more ways than ever to find success in the field of nursing. Just make sure that you’re taking care of yourself as much as you would any patient in your charge, and from all of us at Scrubin Uniforms, have a wonderful Nurses Week!

Unsung healthcare heroes shine during Occupational Therapy Month

If you’ve ever experienced occupational therapy as part of recovery from an injury or surgery, you know what lifesavers these people are! If not — trust us. These men and women are kind, creative and endlessly supportive to people who are trying to get back to their most active life possible, and they can work wonders.

We’re happy to honor and celebrate them during Occupational Therapy Month, brought to us by the American Occupational Therapy Association. Occupational therapy helps people of all ages do the things they want and need to do, and help them heal from, live better with or even prevent injury, illness or disability.

Did you know that occupational therapists also work with children with disabilities so they can more fully participate in school and social situations? Or with older adults who are experiencing not just physical issues, but cognitive and awareness changes?

According to the AOTA, that includes:

•       an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals 
•       customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals
•        an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan

A lot, right? They do all that and more, thanks to a holistic perspective that considers the person’s environment, and then adapts it to fit where that individual is. Science meets with intuition and compassion, allowing therapists not just to assist, but to also work closely with their patients so that it’s a real team effort.

This year’s theme for Occupational Therapy Month is “Occupational Therapy: Living Life To Its Fullest™” and here are some ideas to celebrate if you’re a therapist, work with them or just want to give back for the care and support you may have received from the members of this profession, seek them out to say hello, and make sure that anyone you know who needs assistance is aware of all that an occupational therapist can do to make life fuller and more enjoyable.

Use Autism Awareness Month as a platform for learning and understanding

Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a tough condition to understand. Those with it usually begin to show symptoms as children, when they begin to show difficulty communicating and interacting with others. There is no known single cause for ASD.

The word “spectrum” on ASD means that there are many different degrees of autism, and how it affects someone who has it. According to the Autism Society, some behaviors associated with autism include:

•      delayed learning of language;
•       difficulty making eye contact or holding a conversation;
•       difficulty with executive functioning, which relates to reasoning and planning;
•       narrow, intense interests;
•       poor motor skills; and
•       sensory sensitivities.

Someone on the spectrum might exhibit all of these behaviors, or just a few of them, coupled with others not listed here. And any or all the behaviors can and often are more or less severe with each individual on the spectrum.

There is much to learn about ASD, but one thing for sure is that increased awareness is crucial. That’s because early diagnosis and intervention can help someone with ASD in many ways. For starters, early diagnosis means quicker access to services and support — and improved outcomes.

The United Nations created World Autism Awareness Day, every April 2, to raise awareness about this disorder, which affects one in every 68 children. But one day isn’t nearly enough time to spend on ASD awareness, and so the Autism Society promotes the entire month of April as National Autism Awareness Month.

Do you know someone with ASD, or with a friend or family member on the spectrum? Find out how you can help bring awareness and support research in your community. Scientists are hard at work of finding the cause of autism, but also laboring away on the development of therapies and treatments that make living on the spectrum easier.

Autism may be hard to understand, but kindness, caring and compassion come easy to those of us in healthcare. Let’s see what we can do to help unlock this puzzle!

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Doctors and dentists and recognition — Oh, my!

On March 6, we celebrate National Dentists’ Day, and March 30 brings us National Doctors’ Day, so it’s time for salutes and white lab coats all around.

In all seriousness, those of us in the healthcare business know just how key doctors and dentists are to our society’s health and well-being. First, we’ll look at the docs, and pick up a few pointers about regular checkups:

It keeps you accountable. If you’ve gained weight, for example, your doctor will talk to you about possible medical concerns.

As we age, our bodies change. What didn’t hurt at 40 may be a pain at 50. Everything from sore knees to insomnia is fair game at the annual physical.

Lab work. The doctor’s office is still the best and most efficient place to get a cholesterol check, as well as lots of other tests.

Flu shots and boosters. A checkup is a good time to make sure tetanus and other shots are up to date. If you’ve gotten a flu shot at work or elsewhere, let your doctor know so records can be updated.

We don’t know what we don’t know. You might feel fine, but your doctor may see or hear something that needs further study. A calcium score, for example, is a quick and painless chest scan that can show serious heart problems — which can then be dealt with before they become worse.

Just like the medical doctor, the dentist is there to help keep us healthy. And just like the doctor, the dentist can see problems coming early on, and head them off — if we are diligent about going twice a year for cleaning, and taking care to exercise good dental hygiene in the interim.

And thanks to the American Dental Association, a few reasons, tips and tricks about when we should hustle on into the dentist’s office:

•       Teeth that are sensitive to hot and/or cold
•        Puffy, bleeding gums
•       Maintenance of fillings, crowns, dental implants and dentures
•       Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
•       Family history of gum disease or tooth decay
•        Difficulty chewing or swallowing
•        A medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease or an eating disorder
•       Dry mouth
•        Smoking or use of tobacco products

Alert from the broken-record department: Good health is a team effort, so don't’ go it alone. If you don't’ have a doctor, click here to find a provider near you. No dentist? Solve that right here. Build up your team’s bench with the players who will back you and make sure your health is as good as it can possibly be — and thank them on their special days!

Dig into National Nutrition Month all through March

Whether it’s following a pyramid (old school) or a plate diagram, finding a good system for eating right is well worth the time and effort. And during National Nutrition Month, there’s no better time to slow down, look at your diet and see if there are changes to be made.

This year’s theme is “Put Your Best Fork Forward,” and there are loads of tips and tricks to be found in this toolkit put out by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Here you’ll find ways to get the community involved, plan your own nutrition awareness event and much more. If you’re a registered dietician, or work with one (or a team), consider partnering up to organize some fun, informational programming in the workplace.

What we eat, and how much we eat, is a big deal. Dining out often means huge portions, hidden fat and sugar, and much more. Consider starting to cook and eat at home as one way to get your diet under control — and save some cash at the same time. Who knows, that dusty veggie cookbook you got for Christmas a few years back may contain your new favorite recipe!

Exercise is right in there with diet, so as you’re looking for ways to up the ante in terms of mindful, healthy eating, explore putting your best foot forward as well. Even if it’s just a 30- minute walk after dinner, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, every little bit helps.

And finally, keep in mind that diet and exercise are the twin pillars of good health. If you’re in good shape, keep those good habits up — and maybe add in one or two new ones/ Tired, run down, overweight or dealing with a diagnosis of hypertension, type 2 diabetes or other issue? Know that a healthy diet along with a sensible exercise program can help reduce or even eliminate these ailments, and all the worry that goes along with them.

Not sure where to start? Try talking to a registered dietician, a personal trainer — or both. Sure, it’s an investment, but getting professional help (and having someone to hold you accountable) is a terrific way to start down, or keep moving on, the path to a happier, healthier life.

Bon appetit!

American Heart Month reminds us to take care now — and plan for the future

We talk a lot about a “heart healthy" diet, or go to the gym for cardio classes — but what does all that mean?

If you’re not sure, or need some pointers on taking care of the ol’ ticker, then there’s no better time to get educated than American Heart Month, brought to us by the American Heart Association. First, some sobering statistics:

•          Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States
•          One in four deaths every year are caused by heart disease

And now some good news: Healthy choices when it comes to diet and exercise can go a long way toward preventing heart disease entirely, or slowing its progression. And this is a situation where everyone can work together to support each other on the journey to a healthier heart.

The Centers for Disease Control has a few great tips:

•          Schedule a doctor’s visit to talk about heart health (Had that annual checkup yet?).
•          Add exercise to your day; start slow at first, then try to work up to 30 minutes at least three times a week.
•          Cook heart-healthy meals at least three times a week — in particular, watch the salt.
•          Smoker? Stop. Nothing else to say, except to call 1-800-QUIT-NOW and know that you’re not alone.
•          Are you on medication for cholesterol or high blood pressure? Be sure to take it as prescribed.

Want to get the word out about the importance of heart health? The government’s Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has put tougher a great toolkit with sample tweets, articles and other information that’s easy to grab and post to your social media channels. Take a look, find the right message you want to send, and join Scrubin Uniforms in the fight for healthy hearts everywhere!