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Showing posts from April, 2023

Is there Safe Fentanyl Use?

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I am Adela Sanchez, BSN, RN, PHN. I am a registered nurse in practice for the last 13 years. I spent most of my career in Labor & Delivery hospital units. I also have home health experience, a bit of PACU, and now a bit of school nursing. I was born and raised in Oceanside. I have a love for community and family.  I share in hopes to promote education and encourage each person’s own growth. Fentanyl As a former labor and delivery nurse, I’ve administered fentanyl many times. It works effectively for immediate pain relief and has a short half-life (its effects leave the body quickly). Fentanyl is used all over hospitals in surgeries, for pain relief, and for cancer patients.   We cannot ignore the benefits of fentanyl when prescribed correctly. The National Institutes of Health states when prescribed by a doctor, fentanyl can be given as a shot, a patch that is put on a person’s skin, or as lozenges that are sucked like cough drops . These medications can be very benef...

Phytic Acid: Another Reason Not to Eat Plants!

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By Kim Marquardt, RN MSN This blog post is from the Nurse Kim archives of myth busting. I want to share some "alternative" or maybe just lesser known health and wellness viewpoints for you to chew on. *These posts are not intended as official medical advice. They ARE meant to be fun, informative, and thought provoking, hopefully sparking an interest for you to do your own research (you can start with the links I provide!) and discover the marvels of the human body, and how it can function at its optimal performance level if we understand how it works and interacts with our environment and our diet. I have a passion for health and wellness through lifestyle and nutrition and have done thousands of hours of research in addition to being a registered nurse for 23 years. I have done A LOT of self-experimentation in and around diet, lifestyle, body care, and supplementation and have spent a lot of time looking into the science behind it all (or lack thereof!). Check back weekly fo...

A Cool Fact About Furry Friends

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By Kim Marquardt, RN MSN This blog post is from the Nurse Kim archives of myth busting. I want to share some "alternative" or maybe just lesser known health and wellness viewpoints for you to chew on. *These posts are not intended as official medical advice. They ARE meant to be fun, informative, and thought provoking, hopefully sparking an interest for you to do your own research (you can start with the links I provide!) and discover the marvels of the human body, and how it can function at its optimal performance level if we understand how it works and interacts with our environment and our diet. I have a passion for health and wellness through lifestyle and nutrition and have done thousands of hours of research in addition to being a registered nurse for 23 years. I have done A LOT of self-experimentation in and around diet, lifestyle, body care, and supplementation and have spent a lot of time looking into the science behind it all (or lack thereof!). Check back weekly fo...

How to Help Someone Experiencing Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence

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  By Purvi Bhakta, Pre-licensed Mental Health Counselor Domestic violence is when someone repeatedly physically and emotionally abuses another, in order to gain/maintain control over them. Domestic Violence (DV) can occur between a parent and child, siblings, or even roommates, while Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) occurs between romantic partners. Regardless of which your loved one is experiencing, the control will typically show up first as emotional abuse and then later as physical violence. Seeing a loved one go through this can be dysregulating and upsetting. However if you suspect someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, know that you have the ability to help them. Early Warning Signs That a Loved One May Be Experiencing Domestic Violence Frequent physical markings such as black eyes, bruises, cuts, and discoloration on the neck Constantly having to be in contact with their partner and asking permission to go places Not having their own mode of transportation May re...