Important Information? Try Poster Putty...

Do you know the telephone number for poison control? No, well, you have it posted somewhere, don't you? No, you say there's no where to post it on today's phones?

We have the answer to that problem in two words: Poster Putty. Both 3M and Duck manufacture poster putty. It's available at most big box stores as well as office supply outlets for under $1.50. This miraculous putty won't harm most surfaces and is reusable.

We recommend that you place all your important phone numbers inside a plastic sheet protector and secure it to the wall next to your main phone. It's also great for parents of teenagers who insist on covering their walls with posters of groups you've never heard of. It's also perfect to anchor those small items that toddlers love to pick up and place in their mouths.

Now, you're ready to post all those important numbers; just be sure to tell your mother-in-law that you have no idea where the pizza take-out number came from.

Happy posting,

Nurse Nan

Is That Ankle/Knee Sprained or Just Strained?

After our blog on bandaging cuts and scrapes to knees, elbows, and other hard to wrap areas, we received several inquiries concerning the difference between sprains and simple strains. While a simple strain produces pain, swelling is usually minimal. If the injury is to an ankle, soaking the joint in warm water with Epsom salts is often the best and most economical treatment. Any cuts and abrasions to the area can be wrapped in a simple homemade bandage as we discussed earlier.

If the injured joint is extremely painful and presents with marked edema (swelling), it's best to see a physician for an X-Ray. Remember, docs-in-a-box are not usually set up for treating these kinds of injuries and will in all probability refer you to the emergency department of a hospital. If there are no cuts involved in this kind of injury, it's best to leave the joint unwrapped until you can seek medical treatment. Knees are much trickier to diagnose and often produce more debilitating injuries; they are always best checked out by physician.

If you've suffered previous knee injuries that have resulted in osteoarthritis (OA), you've probably been prescribed COX-2 inhibitors (Celebrex, etc.) to take on a daily basis. There are some new long-term treatments on the market--one, Synvisc-One, is listed in our ads to the right. If one of these treatments doesn't work for you, be sure to tell your physician you aren't getting the results you would like. He or she should be happy to work with you on long-term treatment plans.

Finally, remember if you injure yourself while playing baseball, basketball, football, etc., for the first time in twenty years, be sure to come up with a less humorous explanation for your family and co-workers.

Keep safe,

Nurse Nan

No Stuffed Animals in the Hospital?

What should you take a child in the hospital? That would depend on the child, but we can certainly say what not to take: Large stuffed animals. These stuffed creations look so cute in the gift shop, but in the hospital room much less so.

I've heard some visitors say, "Oh, but they make the child happy." Yes, they do, for a few hours until their pain returns or they begin to feel so much better their only interest is getting dressed and going home. Then the toys are relegated to a corner to take up much needed room or, even worse, set on the floor where they become a hazard in emergencies. Once the child is ready to leave the hospital, the stuffed animal becomes something Mom or Dad has to tote to the car and then find room for at home.

One of the best presents to take a child in the hospital is an activity or pop-up book. They take up little space when folded and are easily transported home to enjoy over and over. Depending on the circumstances, taking some coffee or sandwiches to a waiting parent can be a very much appreciated gift.

With flu season about to start, we hope none of your children becomes ill. Remember to call your physician as soon as possible to set up a vaccination appointment for your whole family.

Nurse Nan

You're Going to Give Me a Shot Where?

Due to a local physician having some problems at his office, we've had several questions concerning just who's who at the doctor's. Here's the run down of what type personnel you will usually find:

Physician - either a Medical Doctor or an Osteopath
Physician's Assistant - these are licensed and usually possess a Master's Degree
CRNP - these highly trained nurses are licensed and also usually possess a Master's Degree
RN - professional nurses; there are currently four kinds practicing in the state, but all have the same legal status
LPN - trade nurses that are called LVNs in some states
Medical Assistant - these are not licensed, do the basics, and do not usually administer injections
Phlebotomist - personnel trained in drawing blood, found in larger offices

If you have any doubt about who is assisting your physician or administering vaccinations, etc., feel free to ask. All competent personnel will be glad to answer your questions concerning their credentials.

The Alabama Department of Health is mounting a campaign for massive vaccinations this fall. Without vaccinations, their estimate is 30% of the state's population will contract swine flu. The vaccine should be available here in early to mid October.

And just where should you get your injection? We've actually had a question about this, and the answer is it depends. Some injections need to be given in a large muscle, usually in the buttock. Untrained personnel can easily injure the sciatic nerve while administering these injections--one big reason to ask who's who if you aren't sure.

If you take frequent injections that don't require a large muscle, standard protocol is to administer the medicine subcutaneously, avoiding the muscle; however, if you receive minimal injections each year, don't hesitate to ask for the shots to be given in the deltoid where less pain and soreness result.

Again, we urge everyone to begin making plans for this year's flu shot. Shots are no fun, but neither is the flu, and we don't want to lose any readers.

Wishing you good health,

Nurse Nan

Home Remedies - How About Them Apples?

What do you think when you hear the words "home remedies?" We certainly hope no one thinks of do-it-yourself lobotomies or curing gout by burying their toenails under a Hawthorne tree during the full moon.

No, home remedies are simply tried and true, and sometimes economical, solutions to everyday problems involving our health. By far, the most asked question I encounter has to do with, well, not going. You would be surprised at how many people recite the long list of laxatives they've purchased over the years--some of them working, some of them not.

Before you try any OTC laxatives, try eating the proverbial apple a day. Other fruit will do as well, but the versatile apple is available fresh, dried, or cooked into high-calorie concoctions that we all love. A spot of hot coffee or tea is also beneficial, yet most who relate this problem tell me they've never tried either "home remedy."

Now, excuse me, I have some eye of neut simmering in my cauldron...

Have a great weekend,

Nurse Nan

Corinne Malvern - Nurse Nancy's "Mom"

We're going to step outside our usual format and talk about a fantastic talent. Corinne Malvern was the artist behind Nurse Nancy, Doctor Dan, and many other popular characters from the 1930s to the 1950s. Sadly she died at the age of 51 in 1956. I'm sure her Nurse Nancy character inspired many little girls to become nurses, and we hope that many remember her art fondly.

The copyright on her Nurse Nancy ended approximately 10 years ago, but perhaps there's some good in that. Above is a collage of Nurse Nancy images that are used in a line of decorative storage boxes. Now the world may see Nancy in a variety of settings away from the book that originally featured Malvern's beautiful drawings.

-()-

Just what is a "natural home remedy?" Our next blog will attempt to shed some light on home remedies and clear up some misconceptions.

Until then, stay safe and happy,

Nurse Nan

Nurse Nan's Credentials

Late last year, a group of politically minded individuals started the Shoalanda Speaks group. Initially it was just a blog dedicated to conservative local politics, but later it branched out into other areas. Originally, I was asked to help edit the Shoalanda blog; later I was asked to do a fun type first aid blog--one that would answer questions from Shoals area residents. Currently, there are four blogs in the Shoalanda group, and each uses the same e-mail address: shoalanda.speaks@gmail.com.

In the past few days, I have received several questions from Tollie Williams concerning my credentials. We prefer to keep things light and breezy at our blog, but since Mr. Williams' questions seem to point in the other direction, and since these questions have been asked on a public forum (Twitter), I will address them here.

Nurse Nan's Credentials, Affiliations, & Academics:

1. Academic diploma from Coffee High School
2. BA in English from UNA
3. BA in History from UAH
4. ASN from Calhoun Community College
5. BSN from UAH
6. Certification in Growth Hormone Education
7. Certification in Emotional Effects of Violence on Children
8. Author of two local histories
9. Editor of one local history
10. Editor of two novels
11. Member Phi Alpha Theta
12. Member Sigma Tau Delta
13. Member Phi Theta Kappa
14. Founder - Information Campaign for AED Readiness & Education (ICARE)

We hope the above will satisfy Mr. Williams' curiosity.

Thanks for your patience today,

Nurse Nan

Should I Take Eucalyptus Oil for Flu?

We've discussed before the benefits of eucalyptus oil as a decongestant. One reader has asked if this native Australian plant has any influenza fighting properties. The answer is yes; however, whether it would specifically combat swine flu is another question.

If you should choose to take eucalyptus in any of its forms, remember that large doses are poisonous--eucalyptus should never be given to children in any form except as a mild inhalant. Also, do not take eucalyptus if you are also taking echinacea. The combined effects of the two drugs can over stimulate the immune system.

Judging by the number of questions I'm receiving concerning the Swine Flu, many readers are concerned for their personal health. By all means, try eucalyptus in the appropriate dosage. Any protection from this virus is a plus.

Remember, hand washing is your best defense, and avoiding crowds your second. This too shall pass.

Nurse Nan

How Do I Bandage Those Knees & Elbows?

By far, most of the questions I receive involve children. With those bundles of joy and angst come skins and scrapes, a great number of them to knees and elbows, or perhaps to the ends of tiny toes. So, how do you keep them clean while they heal?

After thoroughly cleansing the wounds (remember: deep gashes require an emergency room visit), cover the area with damp gauze; Big Lots or even the Dollar Tree carry inexpensive 2x2 and 4x4 cotton gauge. Now...the hard part: How do you keep gauze in place on an area that bends so freely and frequently?

Look no further than your closet. While you may use some old tee-shirts as dust clothes or rags to absorb oil in the garage, be sure to save some for bandages. Wash the shirt, preferably all cotton, and cut into 3" strips, the longer the better. Now you have a clean inexpensive bandage to hold the gauze in place. Most wounds should be healed enough in 24 to 36 hours to dispense with bandaging, but continue to spray or manually apply a good antiseptic until they heal completely.

Finally, remember, they do grow up eventually,

Nurse Nan

Dr. Lloyd Johnson Jr.

Dr. Lloyd Johnson Jr. passed away Tuesday. I distinctly remember our first meeting: I was a teenager lying on a gurney in a draped-off emergency room at the old Colonial Manor Hospital. I had never heard the name Dr. Johnson before and was obviously frightened while waiting for this unknown orthopedist to arrive.

When Dr. Johnson first entered the small area, I had no idea who he was and I was not particularly impressed by his appearance, other than he was tall. Then he spoke in reassuring words, telling me of my injuries and explaining what needed to be done.

In later years I would see Dr. Johnson at various civic events. He was always surrounded by family and friends--a man rich in more ways than one. Even before I became a nurse, I knew that Dr. Johnson and his partner Dr. Frank Hatchett had introduced the modern world of orthopedics to the Shoals area, an area that had until then been often served by what could traditionally be called "sawbones."

Dr. Johnson continued to work after retirement from his orthopedic practice a few years ago and remained an active presence in the Shoals. He was truly an inspiration to all who knew him and he will be greatly missed.

My sympathies to his family,

Nurse Nan

Does Your Doctor Speak Martian?

Judging from my e-mail, most of my readers have very little idea what their physicians actually say during their office visits. Even hospital dismissal paperwork is sprinkled with Med-Speak and incomprehensible to many. So, how do you know what's actually going on with your health and your medical treatment?

Should you buy a Physician's Desk Reference to check out the drugs you take? Well...you could, but a Davis Drug Guide is handier for the layperson to use and much cheaper. New drugs enter the market monthly, but information about the majority of meds doesn't change, so a used copy purchased form Amazon.com or even at a yard sale is a good investment. The Davis Drug Guide is preferable to other such books, listing meds alphabetically, rather than by type (after all, how many laypeople know drugs ending in "lol" are usually beta-blockers? You get the idea).

Now that you're fixed on drug info, how do you know exactly what your diagnosis means or what treatment it will entail? If you just need a good medical dictionary, Tabor's is the best. Again, these books can be purchased used, and 99% of the material does not change from year to year.

If you're more concerned about treatment or progression of certain maladies, you need a Merck Manual. These are written for physicians, but much of the material is easily comprehended by the layperson. These books are harder to find used, but usually a few show up on Amazon.com.

One word of caution: Just because you have one symptom of a disease doesn't mean you actually have that illness. The only thing a physician hates more than having a patient read the Merck is having a patient who is a Merck-reading nurse, but of course I would never do that myself...

Good luck and happy book hunting,

Nurse Nan

Now, About Those Face Masks...

If you purchased a box of face masks for an epidemic that failed to arrive as advertised, we suggest you keep them for future use. There's no expiration date, and they take up little storage.

However, if you just have to get rid of them in order to purge any bad thoughts concerning WHO and the CDC, we suggest you donate them to Safeplace, Inc. Our sister blogger Shoalanda has a column dedicated to that wonderful organization, just in time for Mother's Day.

http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/

If there's not a Safeplace in your area, please contact your local United Way for the name of an appropriate organization.

Thanks,

Nurse Nan

A Scarf?

All out of masks at the pharmacy? Yes, you can use a scarf. Natural cotton or silk is preferable to synthetic fabric and will dry more quickly. Just remember to spray with Lysol or other disinfectant at the end of the day.

And what goes with hand washing? If you're at your home sink, take the time to rinse your mouth with an antiseptic each time you wash.

It's the first of May; let's keep the flu away.

Nurse Nan

WHO Says Pandemic is Coming

Medscape release:

Breaking News - April 29, 2009

Swine Flu One Step Closer to Pandemic
Swine flu has pushed the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise its pandemic alert level to phase 5, which means that a pandemic is imminent. It's the second time in a week that the WHO has raised its pandemic alert level, which ranges from phase 1 (low risk of a pandemic) to phase 6 (a full-blown pandemic is under way).

Swine Flu Redux?

Two readers have contacted us asking about the Swine Flu inoculations of 1976--specifically if this vaccine would offer any protection against a possible outbreak of the 2009 version. In my opinion it would, and while it would be very little, a little is still better than nothing.

Swine flu vaccines were provided to those under 25 or over 70 and to those in chronically bad health. A series of two inoculations was recommended, but I'm sure many were like me and stopped with only one. The vaccine came with some hard to take side effects, namely serious flu like symptoms that lasted for 24 hours. To an active teenager, the risk didn't seem to outweigh the discomfort and the possible necessity of canceling social activities.

I will stress again, if you have traveled recently and suspect you have contracted the disease, contact a physician immediately and ask for Tamiflu. Also, while regular flu shots are usually given in October in order to be effective during the winter flu season, and are not expected to combat this new strain, any extra protection is better than none.

Think of it this way, staying home the next few weeks may not only save you money in this recession, but also save your life.

Good luck,

Nurse Nan

A Flu Pandemic?

If you've read or seen the news in the past two days, you know that a flu pandemic may be at hand. While I doubt this is the case, we all need to take some simple precautions whenever confronted with what could be a serious threat to our health.

If you haven't taken any echinacea recently, immediately begin a regimen of 14 days. Do not take this herbal supplement for longer than two weeks, as it can overstimulate your autoimmune system.

While expensive, Tamiflu has proved to combat all strains of influenza and should be administered if you have been exposed. Above all, wash your hands often and when mingling with large groups, don't be afraid to shy away from handshaking or to wear a mask.

Your friends won't care if you look like Michael Jackson, but they will care if you wind up, what's the word, oh, yes, dead.

Good luck to everyone and remember Summer is just around the corner!

Nurse Nan

Chapped Lips?

It snowed yesterday, and you were out in it, weren't you? Tell the truth. That's what I thought, so now you have chapped lips--what should you do?

Actually, I would recommend that you avoid sore, cracked lips to begin with. Women can do that by always wearing lipstick. Most women have several tubes of lipstick or pots of gloss lying around the house; therefore, there's no need to invest in lip balm if you remember to wear a little lip color each day, touching it up after you eat or drink. Not only will you avoid chapped lips, but cancer of the lips as well.

That's fine for women, but what about men? Guess what, they can come out even more cheaply. There are no oil glands in our lips, but you don't have to resort to wearing lipstick. Simply run your fingers through your hair two or three times a day. Then rub the oil residue over your lips. There's even an added advantage since you won't be allergic to the oil your scalp produces.

So, that's fine for future reference, but what if your lips are already chapped? As long as your lips are just dried out, with no lesions, your best bet is beeswax. Any product by Burt's Bees is great, but again guess what? Carmex contains the same beeswax at a much lower price.

Now...you're set to go for the rest of the winter.

Nurse Nan

Winter Sunburn

When we think of sunburn, we usually think of sunny beaches or other warm locales. So we don't always remember to use a sunscreen during the cloudy days of winter. The past few weeks I've encountered several who have received a (thankfully) mild sunburn while repairing wind damage or performing other outdoor chores.

These winter sunburns are usually on the hands and face and don't present the intense discomfort of an all over summer burn. For such mild burns, natural aloe vera is a great quick fix. If you don't have an aloe vera plant, an over-the-counter aloe gel is an inexpensive remedy that offers the same results. Panama Jack makes an aloe vera gel with the added painkiller of lidocaine. It can be found at most dollar stores and, if you're lucky, the Dollar Tree.

Remember to wear that sunscreen whenever working outdoors and have a great remaining six weeks of winter.

Nurse Nan

Fight Back Against Cold & Flu

Most of us don't know what germs we inhale during our average day, but sometimes we do know when we've been exposed. If you braved the rain to take your Aunt Tildy her birthday gift, only to find she has "the worst case of 'flu since 1957," there's some hope for you.

Sure, you know to wash your hands upon arriving home, but what else can you do? Plenty--try this little known preventative and reduce your risk of infection by at least 50%.

Take hairdryer in hand, set the heat to warm, and breath in. That's it, but be sure to do it for 15 to 20 minutes. The warm air isn't hot enough to damage lung tissue, but it will dissipate the cold and flu viruses.

Nurse Nan

Stuffy Nose?

It's cold, it's hot, it's cold again. Can you blame your nose for feeling like a cotton warehouse? To top it all off, you had to work over and your feet hurt? Don't worry, one treatment fits both ailments.

Prepare a steaming foot bath. If you haven't yet seen those tubs called "Flatbacks," you've been missing out; they fit snug to your chair so you can sit back and relax while you soak your feet. Now get a large bath towel and some eucalyptus oil (available at pharmacies, health food stores, and even dollar stores). You're ready for a wonderful experience.

Place a few drops of the eucalyptus oil in the steaming water, insert feet, place towel over head and breath in. Warning, a few breaths of this wonderful concoction will more than clear your stuffy nose. Now you're ready to sit back and watch CSI or the ballgame while the foot bath completes your renovation.

Take care in the cold and remember to bring your pets in.

Nurse Nan

Luggage Under the Eyes?

Did you wake up this morning (or afternoon), look in the mirror, and see a matched set of bags under your eyes to remind you of last night? If so, there are some things you can do to at least lessen the appearance of that luggage.

For starters, sleep with two pillows--it will decrease swelling in the face as well as help the sinuses. Remember using Preparation H for burns? A little under each eye at night will shrink those bags; just remember to place a soft towel on your pillow to protect it from greasy residue.

Once you're awake, head for the kitchen for more help. Holding an ice cube under each eye will also reduce bags. If all else fails and you have the time, there's more help in the fridge. Break an egg, separate the white, and spread a little under each eye. This simple mask may be used on the entire face if desired. Just remember to protect the eyes themselves. Allow the mask to dry, wash off, and moisturize.

Now, you're ready to face 2009. All the best to everyone!

Nurse Nan