3 Essential Communication Skills Needed in Home Nurses And Hospital Nursing Training

Nurses Communication Skills Training is Inadequate yet Essential:

I will list 3 essential skills that all nurses need for better nursing and to prevent burnout. Many nursing schools seem to be lack teaching some of these skills that could make a nursing profession easier and more rewarding. Did you know, that two questions can save you from burnout. The same two questions can build trust between you, the patient, the patients family or the attending doctor.

Here is a list of 3 essential communication skills that you need to enjoy your job, make your job easier and to enjoy communication with the people that you come in contact with.

1 Self Empathy Skills:

Self empathy is an understanding of what YOU may be experiencing in a moment. It is also a proactive communication not reactive. Self empathy will help you to enjoy your job more and also keep you from burnout. This is a skill that you do before you go to work and during those trying times of stress, confusion and maybe even when anger develops. IT is your emotional first aid and also a technique that will help you build a positive intention before going to work. The beauty of this skill, is it only takes seconds. It is not meditation, yet can be much faster bringing focus, joy and calm in seconds.

2: Empathy skills:

For this discussion empathy is a deep understanding of what someone may be experiencing.It could be the patient, the patients family, your peers, or the attending doctor's. One motto that you may want to use is "empathy before education". We have been brought up to educate before really understanding another. Using empathy skills, we want to understand before we educate someone. This can also be called fix-it language and happens many times. When we are hurried, stressed, or in pain from what we are hearing from the other person, we use this dysfunctional language..

When we offer someone empathy our energy builds, the other person's energy builds, and there is a connection developed between both people. This develops trust. If we offer someone a story or education, advice or even sympathy, we can lose the connection with them quickly, and lose their trust.

3: Expressing Honestly:

Without this skill burnout is probable. If we cannot express ourselves honestly and with compassion, any stress or anger we have, will build up until we blow up. If we can express ourselves honestly and functionally without using blame, shame, guilt or fear, our energy will build and trust will also build with the other person. Again we are using proactive communication skills, not dysfunctional.

These are three essential skills that one needs to be able to function in a stressful nursing job. Without these skills you will probably be heading for burnout instead of a profession that can be lucrative, emotionally and physically. It is your choice to learn these skills or risk physical and emotional challenges.

How Home Care Can Help the Elderly to Be More Independent - Mary's Story

For many people ageing means the loss of health and independence. People who choose to remain in their own homes are often faced with still needing to rely on others to do the things they once did for themselves. Losing this independence is very hard, but there are ways in which people living at home can be assisted to regain their independence. This approach to eldercare is based on an Enabling philosophy.

This means that the aim is to 'do with' rather then 'do for'. You are never "too old" to do things for yourself.

Sometimes people can lose confidence in their own abilities after having a fall or a serious illness. The enabling approach allows for a gradual re-introduction of tasks with support to ensure you are safe while you build your skills up again.

Mary's story highlights this process: *names changed

Mary was 78 when she slipped on her front step on a rainy afternoon in Sydney. She fractured her hip and spent several months in hospital recovering. Whilst in hospital, Mary had nurses to help her shower and did not have to cook or clean. She was worried about how she would do these things when she returned home as she lives alone. Mary's children all lived far away and she did not want to burden her friends. Mary was frightened that she would fall again and have to move into a nursing home. Mary was introduced to a home care service when she decided that she wanted to return home to live rather then move into a nursing home.

Mary then met with a care manager- David, and together they arranged services to help her with her daily activities and build her confidence. Mary's goal was to be fully independent again. She was introduced to her community worker, Joan. Joan would pop around every morning to help Mary have a shower, do some housework and any shopping that Mary needed. Initially Mary wanted Joan to help quite a bit- she told David that she was especially worried she would fall over in the shower. David then organized a chair for her in the shower and Mary was able to shower herself with Joan standing by in case she needed her.

Joan encouraged Mary to participate in the housework tasks- Mary would wipe the bench tops while Joan used the vacuum. Over the next few months Mary gradually started doing more of the housework tasks herself with Joan standing by for support. David would check in every few weeks to see how Mary was progressing with her goal and adjust the services if necessary. Soon Mary built her confidence up and Joan was no longer needed at all: Mary regained her independence.

Mary's story highlights how a bit of help can go along way. If applied with an enabling focus, in-home elder care can assist a person to become more independent. It doesn't have to mean the end of independence.

ACFI Funding - Making Aged Care Facilities Better

Most of us work hard and save money to invest for the future. Some of us dream of retiring from work and watch our grandchildren grow. However, not all culture and countries use this kind of system. Some elderly may often find themselves in aged care homes after reaching a certain age. Most people in the western countries are expected to live independently once they hit the age of 18, and throughout their remaining years. Oftentimes, most people find themselves alone as soon as their children leave their household when they reach the age of maturity.

That is the reason why aged home facilities are established, so that people can still lookout and give care for our beloved elderly. Some people have accepted the fact that they too will someday end up in aged home facilities. However, not all age care facilities are capable of providing quality care for the elderly. Some facilities have financial problems, while some do not have enough support from their sponsors. These facts have made it particularity hard to choose the ideal aged home facility that will take care of parents and grandparents someday. To avoid this problem, ACFI was developed in the wonderful country of Australia.

ACFI stands for Aged care Funding Instrument. This program started last March 2008. Their main objective is to make sure that all aged home facilities meet the standard in giving care to the elderly. A company or facility may become rundown after a couple of years. Old facilities, financial problems, lack of nurses or staffs are just some of the usual problems encountered by aged care facilities. However, with ACFI the once old and rundown facilities can become a beacon of elderly care once again. This particular program is designed to maintain the standards of elderly care. Let us face the fact that not all of us can hire a personal or private nurse that will take care of us when we are already old. That is the reason why more and more aged home facilities are now built these days. These aged care homes are equipped with equipments and facilities that can help nurture the elderly. Also, they hire excellent professionals to assist and provide high quality of care to our grandparents. Age homes facilities are vital in a community, and remember that our elderly loved ones only deserve the best once they retire.

Thanks to the aged care funding, there are many aged home facilities in Australia to choose from. In addition, each one of them is more confident in taking care of our elderly since they are now well supplied. Always remember that standards must be met in taking care for the elderly. Should you fail to meet the standards, your elderly clients are also affected. That is why running an age home facility is a serious business.

Avoiding the Hospital

For many of our parents and grandparents, the hospital stands as a symbol of recovery and safety. But in reality, the hospital is not the ideal place to be for many folks. This is especially true in hospice situations. In a case like this, there is actually very little that the hospital can do that a hospice home cannot. And in reality, a hospice center is much cheaper than a hospital. While this should certainly not be a deciding factor when taking our parents' and grandparents' well being into account.

What should be taken into account is comfort and peace of mind. A hospital is oftentimes an impersonal and cold place to spend your last days. With a hospice center, your comfort is not overlooked; it is their number one priority. A hospital is often overbooked with patients and can sometimes be short staffed. This is not an ideal place in these situations.

Surgery is another thing that needs to be considered. The elderly do not heal in the same manner as the young and surgery, while full of good intentions, can often lead to medical complications or premature death. The simple surgeries that the young have are not anywhere near simple for the very old. Whether it's the anesthesia or just going under the knife, surgery should only be approached as a final option when no other choice seems to make sense.

If you have a relative in a nursing home, the hospital is even more dangerous. A recent study showed that compared with an elderly person with the same illnesses, a nursing home patient's recovery was far worse than someone of the same age who was not in a nursing home. In other words, an elderly person in a nursing home faces a higher likelihood of death than someone not in a nursing home.

This information needs to be considered when you are thinking of having treatments on an elderly relative. You certainly do not want to put them in a situation that might cause them to become even sicker or dead.

This study looked at four different types of abdominal surgery. Ulcer surgery patients fared the worst; 42 percent of nursing home patients died after this surgery. Compare that to 26 percent of all other patients.

Regardless of the reasoning, nursing home patients should only consider surgery as the last and final option. If they need surgery to save their life, then surgery should be approached with caution. Elective surgery, or surgery for a minor ailment, should be avoided. Healing is more difficult in the elderly, and for some reason, nursing home patients fare the worst out of all demographics. If you have an elderly relative in a home, you need to know the facts about their healthcare and act accordingly after considering all sides.

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Raise Strong Emotions

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are emotive subjects. Our fears about death and dying and the laws, both religious and state, which control the legality of death, are powerful influences on all of us.

Staying alive is one of the strongest drives any animal, humans included, has. At the same time, those who are carnivorous in their diet expect animals to die to feed them. This is part of the food chain and is echoed by the animals who hunt for food as opposed to non carnivorous animals.

Society does not expect anyone to kill another person; yet we execute people we deem to have committed certain crimes. We send our children to fight wars for our countries, knowing they can be killed or maimed. These concepts are accepted are normal. Man is an aggressive creature and very muddled in how it thinks.

The danger for most of us with euthanasia and assisted suicide is that someone will die because they are rich, in the way, getting old and being a nuisance or some other idea. Yet when our pets become distressed with disease and old age, after consulting a vet, we give them the mercy of releasing them with a quiet injection and call it putting the animal to sleep. The grief is no less but we feel it is a kind thing to do.

When humans suffer from dreadful diseases like the end of some cancers, motor neuron disease and diseases which take away the independence and dignity of the individual, those who have nothing to do with the person dictate they should live and suffer. They seem to be devoid of imagination of what it is like to suffer unbearable pain or suffocate slowly because the body cannot get air.

Suicide is frowned upon as a cowardly act. For someone who is desperately disfigured it is seen as the only answer. The only person who can know what it is like, is the individual who is suffering. Their family and friends can have some idea because they see the results every day but they cannot know. When you love someone you do not want them to struggle with survival which is traumatic.

Living wills have been designed so that in the event of an unexpected disaster, the wishes of the person are known. Who knows what is happening inside the head of someone who has been in a coma for years. Who knows what quality of life they have. Why is it so terrible to allow someone to die in peace.

In some countries these elements have been considered and thought through. There are legal controls and nothing is done without the criteria being covered. A person cannot just be disposed of as a whim. Surely this is a humane way to treat people who have gone as far as they can. For the religious, dying means getting the reward they have worked for during their lifetime, a positive thing surely.

There is a strong case for euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Seven Tips for Keeping Seniors Young and Happy

With age comes wisdom. And often wrinkles and sometimes declining health, as well. But there are plenty of ways for seniors to stay young at heart and forever comfortable in their bodies.

1. Lose the bad habits.
As we get older, we tend to fall into repetitive behavior patterns. Some of them might be good, such as brushing our teeth twice a day and taking vitamins. Others, like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and junk food, are not-so-good and can negatively impact health. Recognizing bad habits is the first step towards overcoming them. Remember, healthier is younger!

2. Laugh it up.
Laughter is - as they say - the best medicine. It makes us happier, which makes us healthier. It's an especially important key to healthy living for seniors, since it's been shown to lower stress, improve memory, prevent heart disease, lower blood pressure and protect against infection.

3. Keep learning.
Activities which challenge and exercise the mind aren't just for kids! Studying and learning about new things stimulates the mind, improves memory and boosts self-confidence. It's also engaging and interesting. Seniors should embrace the opportunity to learn about all of those things they were always interested in but never had the time to focus on.

4. Friends mean happiness.
Studies have shown that we need as much as six hours a day of social stimulation to remain mentally sharp. One of the best ways is to surround oneself with family and friends. To stay sharp and active, lose the negative friends and surround seniors with people who increase their happiness.

5. Sleep it off.
Sleep is critical to good health. Studies have shown that men who get 7-8 hours of sleep nightly live longer than those who sleep both less and more. Women should get seven hours each night to lower their mortality rate.

6. Get some exercise.
Exercising regularly is among the best things a senior can do to look and feel younger. It also helps them maintain their independence, lowers their risk of diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, depression and stress. Whether it is cardiovascular activities, ligament- and tendon-stretching exercises, or muscle-strengthening exercises, seniors should stay active to stay healthy.

7. Eat right.
One of the fastest routes to feeling old and unhealthy is eating the wrong foods. Seniors should get three square meals per day. Breakfast should focus on getting energy levels up, and snacks should emphasize things seniors may not be getting in their regular diet. Keep meals healthy -lots of different colored vegetables, proteins such as fish, whole grains - with a focus on healthier (and fresher) foods.

Truck Accidents Caused by Defective Equipment

Truck accidents are not always caused by negligent driving. Poorly maintained trucks alone cause serious and deadly accidents every day. In fact, the Department of Transportation estimates that nearly 30% of all accidents are caused by problems with the truck's brakes.

If you have been injured in an accident, or if you have lost a loved one to a truck accident, you may be eligible for compensation. A poorly maintained truck could be the reason for your accident.

In 2010, the Department of Transportation instituted a new Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) program in order to further ensure the safety of large trucks on our nation's highways. All trucks must be CSA compliant, and a big part of that compliance is ensuring that trucks are properly maintained.

Braking, lighting, and tires should be three major components of a truck's maintenance schedule. Failed brakes, an unlit or poorly lit truck, or a busted tire could all cause accidents.

The new CSA program expects drivers to routinely check these major components before operating a truck. If a truck's CSA scores indicate recurrent problems with brakes, lights, or tires, someone could be held liable for negligence in the case of an accident that causes serious injury or death.

But who is held liable? The liability could lie with several parties:

• The truck driver: If the truck driver was responsible for routinely inspecting their rig but was negligent in doing so, then they may be responsible for your injuries.

• The trucking company: If the truck driver reported a problem to their trucking company but the trucking company didn't fix it, or if the trucking company was responsible for inspection and maintenance of a truck, then they may be liable for any accidents.

• The manufacturer of the parts: If brakes or other parts were properly maintained and inspected but failed because of a manufacturing defect, the manufacturer may be liable.

Chronic back problems, traumatic brain injury, serious disabilities are all long term problems that often occur in victims who are fortunate enough to survive collisions with large trucks. Physical and emotional maladies resulting from an accident deserve compensation for medical bills, lifestyle changes, and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one has been injured by an accident with a truck, you should contact an attorney specializing in truck accidents as soon as possible in order to help you ensure adequate compensation for your injuries.