New studies show that individuals with hypertension, diabetes, and history of tobacco use are at higher risk to develop dementia later in life. Authors of the research said that for the first time they were able determine the relationship between cardiovascular issues in midlife and occurrence of dementia.
Clinical implications of study implicates that approximately 1 in 6 US adults older than 70 years has dementia, and the prevalence of dementia is expected to increase 3-fold in the United States between 2000 and 2050. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 70% of cases, whereas vascular disease causes approximately 20% of dementia.
The increasing incidence of dementia in older adults are now at an alarming rate. As providers of health care, patient education on living a healthy lifestyle should be highlighted to have a healthier elderly population in the future. Greater emphasis on avoiding tobacco use, better dietary choices, and regular physical activity should be made. Furthermore, these new studies give more reasons for health professionals to be vigilant in the prevention and management of hypertension and diabetes, apart from being new risk factors for dementia, are regarded as two of the leading health problems today.
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Check out this episode of the Nursing Show to learn more about dementia.
Filed under geriatrics for nurses by on Sep 15th, 2009. Comment. 
According to a recent nursing education press release at Newswise, the John A. Hartford Foundation has given the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) a large grant to increase the numbers of nursing educators and faculty for geriatric specific issues.
How well educated are you in providing comprehensive care to elderly patients?
Nursing and Geriatric Care
As the population ages, understanding of geriatric care challenges will be an important component of nursing school education. RNs and others in the associated nurse professions, including student nurses, should adapt their care for an elderly patient based on the understanding of the anatomic and physiologic changes seen in this patient population.
Particular issues for elderly patients include:
- metabolism changes
- decreased subcutaneous fat
- alterations in medication absorption and elimination
- demineralization of the skeleton and brittle bones
- cognitive changes
- financial challenges
Geriatric Care Resources for Nurses
There are excellent resources available for nursing education on geriatric care issues. Foremost is the huge clearing house of information found at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Nurses and students in nursing will find resources on current research as well as a list of publications on many different specific concerns associated with aging and geriatric nursing care.
Included in the NIA site are resources for patient and family education and an email newsletter for updates from the NIA and other health resources on aging. Recent articles at NIA include educational resources on hypothermia risks for the aging population, complementary and alternative medicine resources, treatments and research in menopausal symptoms, and new research in Alzheimer’s disease.
Tell the Nursing Show What You Think
Want to add your opinion or would like to contribute a short article on aging for the readers of the Nursing Show? Add your comments directly to this post using the comments link below or email your article ideas to us here at Comments@NursingShow.com.
Filed under geriatrics for nurses, nursing education by on Jan 26th, 2009. 1 Comment.
Over at this week’s MedicCast podcast for EMS providers, we take a look as some of the special considerations in the treatment of geriatric patients. First, a look at geriatric trauma considerations and why special care is needed to ensure that the elderly trauma patient is taken to the most appropriate facility just like younger patients. A recent study by the State of Maryland found that geriatric trauma patients were not being taken to trauma centers as much as younger patients with similar injuries.
The show also includes a look at polypharmacy and how it affects the geriatric population. Polypharmacy is the presence of at least 5 to 7 prescribed medications for a patient. Each additional med increases the risk for adverse drug interactions, compounded side effects and endangers the patient. Encourage patients to review their medications at least annually with their physicians.
Any person may experience problems with polypharmacy, but an elderly person will have more issues due to decreased metabolism, reduced renal and hepatic function, and slowed GI clearance and absorption.
Visit the MedicCast Episode show notes pages here.
Filed under geriatrics for nurses, nursing education, nursing medication review by on Aug 27th, 2008. Comment.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Welcome to Episode 32
The Nursing Show is a proud member of the ProMed Podcast Network.
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Click the arrow to play the Nursing Show
[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/media.blubrry.com/nursing_show/traffic.libsyn.com/nursingshow/NursingShow_20080627.mp3]
A podcast for Nurses, Nursing Students, and others interested in what it takes to be a Nurse
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News–
Hospitals Spreading “Superbug”
Chief Nursing Officer Gives Nurses Political Voice
Tip of the Week — Fall Prevention
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Don’t miss an episode! Get the Nursing Show Newsletter by email. Fill out the email form in the right hand column of the site. Get it now!
Comment or share ideas here on the comment link below or by email:
Other Podcasts from Jamie Davis:
- The MedicCast (for EMTs, Paramedics, EMS field work)
- MedicCast News (Weekly short medical news program)
- MedicCast Live (Monthly live call-in show with a single EMS topic)
- Headliner News Roundup (Weekly single new item with facts and commentary)
Contact Me!
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Ingrid Michaelson with, “The Way That I Am”
Click here to check out other Songs from the MedicCast Network Podcasts at the iTunes Store.
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This work is licensed under a
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Filed under nursing show podcasts by on Jun 27th, 2008. 1 Comment.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Welcome to Episode 31
The Nursing Show is a proud member of the ProMed Podcast Network.
Right Click to download (Macs Option Click)
Subscribe with iTunes here (must have iTunes installed — it’s free)
RSS Feed to subscribe (copy url to Juice, Zune Marketplace, or your favorite podcatcher)
Click the arrow to play the Nursing Show
[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/media.blubrry.com/nursing_show/traffic.libsyn.com/nursingshow/NursingShow_20080620.mp3]
A podcast for Nurses, Nursing Students, and others interested in what it takes to be a Nurse
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Sponsors
Special nursing student study tools at NursingTopStudent.com
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Link From Listener Tim– Hydroflouric Acid Burns
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News–
Nursing Quality Measured by Compassion of Care
Tip of the Week — Pressure Ulcers
NIH Medline Links Page for Pressure Ulcers
NIH Medline Patient Info and Education Page
National Treatment Guidelines Study Link
Don’t miss an episode! Get the Nursing Show Newsletter by email. Fill out the email form in the right hand column of the site. Get it now!
Comment or share ideas here on the comment link below or by email:
Other Podcasts from Jamie Davis:
- The MedicCast (for EMTs, Paramedics, EMS field work)
- MedicCast News (Weekly short medical news program)
- MedicCast Live (Monthly live call-in show with a single EMS topic)
- Headliner News Roundup (Weekly single new item with facts and commentary)
Contact Me!
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Podsafe music from the PMN — Jim’s Big Ego with — “Stress” at iTunes
Click here to check out other Songs from the MedicCast Network Podcasts at the iTunes Store.
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This work is licensed under a
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Filed under nursing show podcasts by on Jun 20th, 2008. 1 Comment.
Listener Eric sent this tidbit in from a California newspaper. It examines the trends in geriatric health care. It discusses some alarming statistics brought up in a report from a professor at the University of California San Francisco. In this report, Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce, the following points are made:
- One Geriatric Doctor per 2500 elderly patients
- Fewer than 1% of nurses are trained in geriatric care
- Nursing aide job turnover at 71%
- 90% of home health aides leave within two years
- National average pay for home health aides is $8.50 per hour
The gist of the article is that major change needs to occur in the training and pay for healthcare workers involved in care for the elderly or the system will continue to collapse under the increasing weight of the aging population. Registered nurse specialists in geriatric care need to be trained. Additional training and financial resources need to be arranged for the aides that assist nurses in the facilities and home environments.
Filed under geriatrics for nurses by on Apr 15th, 2008. Comment.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Welcome to Episode 18
The Nursing Show is a proud member of the ProMed Podcast Network.
Right Click to download (Macs Option Click)
Subscribe with iTunes here (must have iTunes installed — it’s free)
RSS Feed to subscribe (copy url to Juice, Zune Marketplace, or your favorite podcatcher)
Click the arrow to play the Nursing Show
[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/media.blubrry.com/nursing_show/traffic.libsyn.com/nursingshow/NursingShow_20080404.mp3]
A podcast for Nurses, Nursing Students, and others interested in what it takes to be a Nurse
—————————-
Sponsors
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Nursing Show Listener Deals at GoDaddy.com –
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News:
Nurse Staffing to the Highest Bidder
Words from Nurse at the Georgia Hospital Shooting
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Tip/Trick of the Week — Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute on CHF
Patient Education Flash Tutorial
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Comment or share ideas here on the comment link below or by email:
Other Podcasts from Jamie Davis:
- The MedicCast (for EMTs, Paramedics, EMS field work)
- MedicCast News (Weekly short medical news program)
- MedicCast Live (Monthly live call-in show with a single EMS topic)
- Headliner News Roundup (Weekly single new item with facts and commentary)
Contact Me!
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this week “Breathe Deep” by Caitlyn Smith
Check out Caitlyn Here Let her know that you heard it here on the Nursing Show!
If you like Caitlyn’s music you can buy it at iTunes by clicking the button below -
Click here to check out other Songs from the MedicCast Network Podcasts at the iTunes Store.
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This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Filed under nursing show podcasts by on Apr 4th, 2008. 1 Comment.
Two healthy 14 year old boys each playing a sport they loved, collapsed while playing sports. They were in cardiac arrest. Both boys died before a defibrillator arrived on an ambulance.
Now, their parents are pushing Congress for more funding for schools to equip their gymnasiums and athletic facilities with AEDs to help prevent such tragedies from happening again. They have joined a cardiologist to testify before a Senate committee about the startling number of such incidents that happen each year.
Some states have passed laws requiring public schools to have AEDs in place to treat sudden cardiac arrest in otherwise healthy young athletes. However, these parents want more. They wish to have mandatory funding for all secondary and elementary schools nationwide to be equipped with these lifesaving devices.
With AED prices getting lower each year (some now below $800), there seems to be no reason to not have an AED placed in a public building. I would like to see AEDs become part of the building code for a public building. Just like sprinkler systems, a conveniently placed AED would go a long way to providing rapid response and defibrillation to any sudden cardiac arrest. Many shopping malls and airports already have them in place and have been used successfully by bystanders to revive victims.
What about churches, supermarkets, large restaurant chains, travel centers? Each of these locations see people in sufficient numbers that they would surely benefit from an AED placed there. They could advertise it right alongside their sign for “Air Conditioned: Come on in, it’s cool!”
“Bring grandpa and his heart condition. We’ve got an AED!”
Filed under RN on the side by on Mar 8th, 2008. Comment.
Somebody get me the can of worms so I can open it. I found this article based on research that points at cardiac medication non-compliance following myocardial infarctions and patient mortality. The authors of the study conclude that one way to increase compliance is to provide the 4 most commonly prescribed cardiac meds to patients for free following their cardiac event.
These meds include: Aspirin, ACE inhibitors, Beta Blockers, and Statins. While the cost of these medications is not the only reason for patient non-compliance, it is certainly a factor here in the U.S. The removal of the Medicare copay would improve patient outcome and quality of life for some of these patients if it encouraged them to buy their prescribed medications.
The study out of Harvard University, looks at a theoretical basis for its findings and the authors point out that while their findings appear significant and make medical sense, there should be actual trials set up where some patients randomly get their meds for free and others remain under the current system. Who would be more compliant with their meds?
Filed under geriatrics for nurses, nursing medication review by on Feb 22nd, 2008. Comment.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Welcome to Episode 11
The Nursing Show is a proud member of the ProMed Podcast Network.
Right Click to download (Macs Option Click)
Subscribe with iTunes here (must have iTunes installed — it’s free)
RSS Feed to subscribe (copy url to Juice, Zune Marketplace, or your favorite podcatcher)
Click the arrow to play the Nursing Show
[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/media.blubrry.com/nursing_show/traffic.libsyn.com/nursingshow/NursingShow_20080220.mp3]
A podcast for Nurses, Nursing Students, and others interested in what it takes to be a Nurse
—————————-
MedicCast Listener Deals at GoDaddy.com –
Code BLU27 gets you 10% off your order at checkout
Code POD27 gets you 10% off any web hosting order at checkout
Try them out and get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com!
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News:
Stroke Therapy Study Shows Promising Results
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Tip/Trick of the Week — Strokes and t-PA (thrombolytic therapy)
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Comment or share ideas here on the comment link below or by email:
Other Podcasts from Jamie Davis:
- The MedicCast (for EMTs, Paramedics, EMS field work)
- MedicCast News (Weekly short medical news program)
- MedicCast Live (Monthly live call-in show with a single EMS topic)
- Headliner News Roundup (Weekly single new item with facts and commentary)
Contact Me!
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Music from the Podsafe Music Network by the band Red Molly
Some good bluegrass/folk music — “Darlin’ Corey” click the button below to get it at iTunes.
Click here to check out other Songs from the MedicCast Network Podcasts at the iTunes Store.
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This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Filed under nursing show podcasts by on Feb 20th, 2008. Comment.
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