If inhalers do not have a counter on the unit that tells us how many metered doses are remaining, we never know about discarding or continuing their use. I fear we are letting them live out their time...
Ask the Care Expert about … C. diff
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Dec 06, 2016
We have had several residents with C. diff. Their families are asking if there is support available for them. Our staff wonders too. Can you assist?
Ask the care expert: describing a resident’s cognitive symptoms to a physician
Ask the care expert: Where can I learn more about OBRA 87?
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Jun 06, 2012
Having been a director of nursing before, during and after OBRA, I can tell you, “We have come a long way, baby.” The best document I have found is from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Ask the care expert: When is isolation required for C. diff, and when can a resident be taken out of...
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Mar 01, 2012
Residents should be placed on contact precautions while they are experiencing diarrhea. Wait to discontinue precautions until the diarrhea resolves.
Ask the care expert: untangling a patient’s tubes and wires
Ask the Care Expert about… mini-mental state exams
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Nov 05, 2015
We have a dementia unit and currently use a mini-mental state examination on our admissions. We have heard the mini-mental may not be the best test — do you know of any other that may be better?
Ask the care expert … about photographing wounds
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Sep 01, 2013
I am a charge nurse on a skilled unit. We do not take photos of wounds, but I would really like to take pictures. As they say a picture is worth a 1,000 words. Do you agree?
Ask the Care Expert about … LPNs and IVs
By
Sherrie Dornberger
May 08, 2018
Can an LPN be asked to start IVs or use a PICC line? This question is dependent on your specific Nurse Practice Act.This website has all the nurse practice sites: https://www.ncsbn.org/npa.htm. Pick your...