By Tracy Jackson RN.
Childhood lead poisoning
Lead is a toxin that is harmful to young children. Primary prevention for lead awareness is education, which include risk assessment. Healthy People 2010 have established the goal of elimating lead poisoning by 2010 (Healthy People, 2008). Lead poisoning has been linked to autism and cognitive delayed development. Pregnant women or any women who are planning a pregnancy should know the facts surrounding lead poisoning (Safe babies, 2008). Lead awareness information should be included in that new mother’s visit, which should include patient teaching information to prevent expose to lead.
Risk assessments are surveys used to establish your child’s level of exposure to lead (EPA, 2008). The first question usually starts with your home—how old is it? Was the house built before 1974? In the State of Illinois, each local health department has a lead prevention program whereas funds are allocated for lead awareness. Other successful events are health fairs, block parties, run, walk and bike for lead prevention that are held in many communities around the State of Illinois (IDPH, 2008).
Secondary prevention emphasis screening used to identify potential exposure to lead poisoning. The screening is easy to remember, every child starting at birth until 6 years old must receive a yearly screening. The toxic number to remember is 10mcg. Anything over 10mcg will requires treatment according to EPA (EPA, 2008) Starting today, families with young children from birth to 6 years old should not allow shoes that are worn in the public to enter your home. Place a shoe rack at the front door and kindly request all guests to remove their shoes when entering your home. The earth soil carries an enough lead to cause potential harm to all young children (EPA, 2008).
Tertiary prevention for lead awareness consists of treatment. The first line of treatment is to reduce exposure and incorporate foods that are high in calcium and iron into the diet (Safe babies, 2008). Treatment for lead poisoning is a chelating agent which is an oral drug that binds to lead and mercury, and is given every eight hours for five days and then every twelve hours for two more weeks (APA, 2008).
Reference:
AAP parenting corner: Q&A lead screening. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from American Academy of Pediatrics Web site: http://www.aap.org.
Illinois childhood lead poisoning prevention program. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from Illinois Department of Public Health Web site: http://idph.state.il.us/.
Lead awareness program. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from The United States Environmental Protection Agency Web site: http://www.epa.gov.
Written by Tracy Jackson RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Nurses Know! - Facts about Violence against Women
By: Gertrude Ajaere RN.
VIOLENCE AND ABUSE OF WOMEN.
Violence against women affects approximately 2 to 4 million women each year. Violence is the major cause of injuries to all women between the ages of 15 and 44 years. Violence has become a major health issue. The extent of abuse of women is not known. It is underreported in part because of threats, fear, and feelings of guilt. Mounting evidence is showing that abuse of women may be the most common form of family violence during the prenatal period. An estimated 10% to 50% of women in the world experiences assault by their male partner (Mary Jo Clark 2008).
Every woman is at risk, and most women experience more than one episode of violence. According to the American medical Association, some group of women are at higher risk for abuse, such as women who are single, separated, divorced, btween the ages of 17 and 28 years, those who abuse alcohol or drugs, pregnant women and women that has jealous partners. The most dangerous time for abused women is when they leave abusive relationships (Delorey & Wolf, 2002).
Different types of abuse exist including, slapping, shoving, kicking, assault with a weapon, restraining, and hitting. Some women suffer emotional abuse in the form of isolation, deprivation, intimidation, humiliation and critism. Of course sexual abuse is reported frequently in many clinics and hospitals, such as forced sexual act and sexual degradation.
Nurses working in the community can identify women who are experiencing any form of abuse using their skills in the area of assessment, therapeutic communication, and help in counseling, advocating for them, making referrals to promote the wellbeing and minimize the effects of violence and abuse (Mary Jo Clark 2008). The nurse needs to develop an awareness of how a woman’s cultural belief affects her response to abuse to avoid going against her wish and to advocate for her appropriately. Implementation of primary intervention will aid in decreasing the occurrence women abuse, by identifying abused women and increasing an awareness of the problem of violence and abuse at community level. Secondary intervention includes assessing the abused women and implementing an appropriate plan of care. The nurse also needs to implement tertiary care that includes referral and provision of continuous support to them. ReferencesMary Jo Clark (2008). Community health nursing, p 435-436.Delorey, C., & Wolf, K (2002). Sexual violence & Older Women, p 173-179.
Written by Gertrude Ajaere RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN.
VIOLENCE AND ABUSE OF WOMEN.
Violence against women affects approximately 2 to 4 million women each year. Violence is the major cause of injuries to all women between the ages of 15 and 44 years. Violence has become a major health issue. The extent of abuse of women is not known. It is underreported in part because of threats, fear, and feelings of guilt. Mounting evidence is showing that abuse of women may be the most common form of family violence during the prenatal period. An estimated 10% to 50% of women in the world experiences assault by their male partner (Mary Jo Clark 2008).
Every woman is at risk, and most women experience more than one episode of violence. According to the American medical Association, some group of women are at higher risk for abuse, such as women who are single, separated, divorced, btween the ages of 17 and 28 years, those who abuse alcohol or drugs, pregnant women and women that has jealous partners. The most dangerous time for abused women is when they leave abusive relationships (Delorey & Wolf, 2002).
Different types of abuse exist including, slapping, shoving, kicking, assault with a weapon, restraining, and hitting. Some women suffer emotional abuse in the form of isolation, deprivation, intimidation, humiliation and critism. Of course sexual abuse is reported frequently in many clinics and hospitals, such as forced sexual act and sexual degradation.
Nurses working in the community can identify women who are experiencing any form of abuse using their skills in the area of assessment, therapeutic communication, and help in counseling, advocating for them, making referrals to promote the wellbeing and minimize the effects of violence and abuse (Mary Jo Clark 2008). The nurse needs to develop an awareness of how a woman’s cultural belief affects her response to abuse to avoid going against her wish and to advocate for her appropriately. Implementation of primary intervention will aid in decreasing the occurrence women abuse, by identifying abused women and increasing an awareness of the problem of violence and abuse at community level. Secondary intervention includes assessing the abused women and implementing an appropriate plan of care. The nurse also needs to implement tertiary care that includes referral and provision of continuous support to them. ReferencesMary Jo Clark (2008). Community health nursing, p 435-436.Delorey, C., & Wolf, K (2002). Sexual violence & Older Women, p 173-179.
Written by Gertrude Ajaere RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN.
Nurses Know! - Cervical Cancer Facts
By Ruth Young RN.
Cervical Cancer
What is cervical cancer? According to the National Cancer Institute it is cancer that forms in the tissues of the cervix which is the organ that connects the uterus to the vagina. This topic is of interest to me because Cervical Cancer is one that is preventable and treatable if detected early on, but there are many who are still unaware of how it is caused. This disease is caused by many factors, but the most common cause is an infection called Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
There are over 100 strains of this virus and of the 100 strains; about 60 are those which causes warts on hands and feet. The other 40 affect the mucosal area, such as the anal and genital area. While most women’s bodies would be able to rid them of HPV, some aren’t able to, and it may develop into Cancer. This is why it of great importance to have an annual pap smear performed if you’re sexually active. According to the American Cancer Society some other risks factors for HPV are:
1. Immunosuppression (ex. HIV ,STD's)
2. Family history
3. Smoker
4. Lower socioeconomic status
5. Multiple pregnancies
Cervical cancer is usually slow growing and may not present any symptoms, but can be found with regular Papanicolaou smear exams (Pap smear). During the pap smear exam, some of the cells are scrapped from the cervix and sent off to the lab to be examined under the microscope, where they’re looking for any cell changes. According to the National Cancer Institute some signs and symptoms are moderate pain during intercourse, vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain and unusual vaginal discharge.
Primary prevention would include abstinence, education on barrier contraceptive methods (Clark, 452), and vaccination. For secondary prevention, screening such as Pap smear and HPV tests which would help detect if one is at risk for cervical cancer, and early detection is key. The HPV tests looks for the virus that can cause these abnormal cell changes. (CDC) Tertiary prevention should focus on prevention of recurrence of the disease through re-infection.
Written by Ruth Young RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN.
Cervical Cancer
What is cervical cancer? According to the National Cancer Institute it is cancer that forms in the tissues of the cervix which is the organ that connects the uterus to the vagina. This topic is of interest to me because Cervical Cancer is one that is preventable and treatable if detected early on, but there are many who are still unaware of how it is caused. This disease is caused by many factors, but the most common cause is an infection called Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
There are over 100 strains of this virus and of the 100 strains; about 60 are those which causes warts on hands and feet. The other 40 affect the mucosal area, such as the anal and genital area. While most women’s bodies would be able to rid them of HPV, some aren’t able to, and it may develop into Cancer. This is why it of great importance to have an annual pap smear performed if you’re sexually active. According to the American Cancer Society some other risks factors for HPV are:
1. Immunosuppression (ex. HIV ,STD's)
2. Family history
3. Smoker
4. Lower socioeconomic status
5. Multiple pregnancies
Cervical cancer is usually slow growing and may not present any symptoms, but can be found with regular Papanicolaou smear exams (Pap smear). During the pap smear exam, some of the cells are scrapped from the cervix and sent off to the lab to be examined under the microscope, where they’re looking for any cell changes. According to the National Cancer Institute some signs and symptoms are moderate pain during intercourse, vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain and unusual vaginal discharge.
Primary prevention would include abstinence, education on barrier contraceptive methods (Clark, 452), and vaccination. For secondary prevention, screening such as Pap smear and HPV tests which would help detect if one is at risk for cervical cancer, and early detection is key. The HPV tests looks for the virus that can cause these abnormal cell changes. (CDC) Tertiary prevention should focus on prevention of recurrence of the disease through re-infection.
Written by Ruth Young RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN.
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