Wendy Votroubek

If the history of the word was compressed into a 24-hour period, the human race would not emerge until the last 77 seconds.[1] With a single human lifespan a mere blip on the timeline of the Earth, it’s overwhelming to consider how little time we have to achieve our goals, to foster relationships, to make an […]

It is not surprising that the leading causes of death in the US are heart disease and cancer; that is a statistic that is not hard to understand, especially considering the health care practices or lack thereof of Americans in general. What is of interest is that the third leading cause of death in the

The patient (AC) was complaining of chest pain, however it was easily explained by over exertion in physical therapy. His lung exam was entirely normal,  except for the minor complaints of chest pain relieved with Tylenol and thought to be from pushing himself in PT after his recent orthopedic surgery. Fortunately for this patient, he

Outpatient surgery and surgery centers can provide another option from the traditional hospital setting. However, for an individual with numerous pre existing conditions (specifically obstructive sleep apnea), these settings might not be the best or safest location. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) most commonly affects middle aged and older adults, especially those who are overweight. OSA

When you have your blood pressure taken, does your provider and  staff take your blood pressure on both sides? You might want to consider this, because of the potential for poor cardiovascular health and increased mortality risk. According to literature1, patients with a substantial difference in blood pressure between the right and left arm can

In nursing, critical thinking for clinical decision-making is the ability to think in a systematic and logical manner with openness to question and reflect on the reasoning process used to ensure safe nursing practice and quality care (Heaslip)[1] Critical thinking is one of those things that one learns as a nurse. How do I then

Whether a patient is seen in a large teaching hospital, small community hospital or prison system, an infected appendix has the potential to be a major abdominal issue, with increased risk of litigation against an emergency physician[1]. Appendicitis is hard to diagnose in that there is not one presenting symptom or finding on physical exam.

Nursing has been known to be one of the most dangerous professions, related to the increased incidence of occupational injuries and illnesses. . The primary reason for these injuries- the lifting and transferring of patients. The numbers speak for themselves, with 52% of nurses complaining of chronic back pain, with a lifetime prevalence of 80%[1].

Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) have become a popular solution for housing for older adults. The goal of ALF’s is to provide support to their residents, while allowing them to maintain their independence and autonomy. Many residents require assistance with activities of daily living (ADL’s) as well as medication management. In order to assist residents with

Do you know what the National Patient Safety Goals are and how they might affect patient care? The Joint Commission (JC), originally called the called “Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations” is a health care industry-credentialing agency. In turn, the accreditation and certification of a health care organization is a symbol of a hospital’s