Nurses Eating Their Young

As a new nurse, I'm all too familiar with the proclivity for older nurses to try to intimidate newer, less experienced, nurses. This concept, this idea, this fact, has been around for a very longtime. After all, it isn't like the colloquial saying, "Nurses eat their young" was created yesterday. In fact, nurses start to eat their young as they hit the floors during clinical. It starts, in my opinion, in nursing school. Now, as my former classmates and instructors know, I'm verbose, stubborn, bright, and intense. As an older male entering a traditional nursing school full of young 20 something females with whom just entered college for the first time, I found nursing school extremely challenging to say the least. As an older professional, former law enforcement officer, I didn't like being bullied, intimidated, or humiliated. And, I often fought back, usually to no avail. Overall, nursing school was a good experience, but I'll never forget some of the tactics my professors tried to use to break me down, put me down, and insult my intelligence.

As a nursing technician, I remember the abuse I, as well as many of my colleagues, endured. Many nurses, especially new nurses, like to pick on, chew up, and demoralize their less experienced, less educated nurse technicians. I've been yelled at, ridiculed, lambasted for not being able to read minds, and I always, believe or not, bit my tongue (nursing school excluded).

Now, as a registered nurse, I still witness nurses eating their young. Sure, it's usually subtle, nurses putting newer nurses in situations they know they can't handle for their own amusement. Or, using their caustic wit as a weapon, they will try to put their younger counter parts in their place. I'm not immune, I've been victimized. However, I have tough skin, armor I've developed over the years from monsters bigger and badder than my colleagues in balloon decorated scrubs.

However, the past is the past. Now, this is the 21th century. And guess what? I, as well as many others, am now the future of nursing. And now it's time to eliminate the practice of nurses eating their young. Not only is it unethical, contradictory to our ethical tenet of doing no harm, it costs hospitals, long-term care facilities, and clinics too much money. Unfortunately, the turnover in hospitals is ridiculous, costing our healthcare system millions of dollars every year. The practice of nurses eating their young is, in a sense, no longer economically viable. We just can't do it anymore, and we shouldn't.

How are we supposed to dispose of this atavistic relic rite of passage? Well, we must quit putting up with it. As a future administrator, I will not tolerate abuse amongst my team members. I challenge my peers and all present administrators to put an end to this, as it is shameful. We're nurses, we're advocates, counselors, ethicists, and technicians all rolled up into one. It's time we act like it.

1,000 People A Year Cured Of ME Thanks To A Lightning Strike

Close to 1,000 people a year are recovering from ME and other similar debilitating conditions after taking a 3 day training program in North London.

It's not unusual for residents of Weston Park, Crouch End, to see someone wheeled down the quiet street in a wheelchair, and two days later see the very same person walking with ease down the road unaided.
The Phil Parker Lightning ProcessTM is a training program which is producing amazing results where other 'treatments' for debilitating conditions, such as ME, have failed.

Devised by Phil Parker, Osteopath, personal development coach and author, the Lightning Process is helping thousands of people considered 'lost causes', by the medical profession, resolve chronic back pain, headaches, migraines, digestive problems depression, anxiety, panic attacks and ME.

Esther Rantzen's daughter resolved her well publicized battle with ME after a three day trip to visit Phil Parker. Ex-England Rugby player Austin Healey has spoken of the joy he felt after his wife resolved five years of her debilitating fight with the illness which literally lays sufferers' lives to waste. Austin Healey says: 'We'd been searching for five years to find a cure for my wife Louise's ME. We found the Lightning Process delivered that cure. Louise is now completely recovered and our future is brilliant again. Having seen the Lightning Process in action, I'm convinced it is the most powerful way to make rapid and lasting changes in any area of your life'.

ME currently affects 250,000 people in the UK and it is generally understood by the Medical profession that there is no cure. Over 1,000 clients a year can attest that this is not the case. In fact, the Lightning Process has been so effective, a large number of former ME sufferers (helped by LP) have since retrained as practitioners and now teach the Lightning Process throughout the UK.

These 25 people all recovered from ME using the Phil Parker Lightning Process. Their combined number of years of illness was 330.

The Lightning Process was devised by Phil Parker and combines concepts from NLP, Hypnotherapy, Life Coaching and Osteopathy. Parker says: 'The Phil Parker Lightning Process is the result of my research over the last decade into why, when problems occur in people's lives, some of them hit a wall and get stuck and others seem to be able to deal with the difficulties in a different way and move forward.'

Parker developed the innovative Lightning Process and has gone on to help thousands of sufferers, including Vikki who was housebound for many years. (see Vikki's former life-story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/content/articles/2007/05/08/features_me_vikki_feature.shtml ) Vikki is now well and has just returned from her first holiday abroad in 18 years.

How can a self-development coach help 1,000's who've been failed by the medical profession?.

The story of the creation of the Lightning Process began with failure. Parker says: 'I had studied with some of the best personal development trainers in the world, read the most cutting edge books, become a highly respected authority in the world of change, and yet there were still some clients, who I felt I should be able to help because of my advanced skills and depth of experience but for whom nothing seemed to work.'

Many of these were ME patients and I began to dread treating them. It's frustrating as a practitioner to fail your patients. And for me, taking them on and not providing results was a failure.'

Parker took his worries to other professionals, and he says: 'This didn't surprise them, dozens of other professionals had tried and failed- they had become resigned to ME sufferers being a hopeless case. This in many cases also extended to patients suffering problems such as low self esteem, self-doubt and even self-hatred, anxiety and depression'.

Parker knew that while he could help many people resolve their issues, there was a hard-core element that weren't able to resolve theirs. Parker says: 'I kept wondering, "What was the difference?" and if we could identify this difference, could we retrain those people "stuck" in their own personal hell, to get unstuck.'

Understanding the mind/body link

The research undertaken by Phil Parker looked at how the brain and body become trapped in a number of damaging unconscious responses, which blight health and stunt lives. Using a powerful combination of techniques uniquely developed using the philosophies and research of NLP, osteopathy, self hypnosis and life coaching, Parker began to achieve amazing results with clients by training them to successfully replace old unhelpful responses and start to regain their health, their sense of self and their future.

How does it work?

Using the LP's technique of combining particular body movements and postures with a set of precisely targeted questions many people have got their health back into balance, quickly and successfully recovering from real illnesses that had troubled them for years.

The Process is specifically tailored to an individual's needs and abilities, and the trainee is supported and assisted by an experienced trainer throughout the seminar and afterwards as required.
The 3 day training program teaches, step by step, how to influence key body systems such as the immunological, neurological and muscular skeletal system.

Is it Positive Thinking? No, unfortunately Positive Thinking on its own is unlikely to make you recover from ME.

Power of Attorney - Healthcare Warnings

Powers of attorney for healthcare decision making are a valuable tool to ensure that your medical wishes are carried out if you become incapacitated and unable to express your desires. However, these powers can be abused and cost you dearly - in terms of your personal well-being and even your finances.

Here's a real life story to illustrate:

Dad is 80 years old and suffers from dementia. While mentally incapacitated, his son manipulates Dad into signing powers of attorney for both finances and for healthcare.

Dad has enough money in various investments and bank accounts to pay for in-home caregiving services. These services are very expensive, but he, like most elderly individuals, would prefer to remain at home in a familiar and comfortable environment. If Dad was mentally capable of deciding where he would live and whether his savings should be used for his care, then he certainly would choose to remain at home.

Unfortunately, his son has different ideas. He views Dad as a cash cow, and sees no reason why Dad's money should be used for in-home care and deplete son's inheritance.

Therefore, son uses the power of attorney for healthcare (referred to as an Advance Health Care Directive in California) to have Dad permanently placed in a nursing home. Son also speaks with the nursing staff, and convinces them that Dad's other children intend to harm him, and that no one is to have any access or communication with Dad, unless son authorizes it.

Isolation is a key element in elder financial abuse. In order for son to carry out his plan, he must make sure that all outside contact with Dad is halted; otherwise, a family member or friend could visit Dad, ask questions of the nursing staff, and uncover son's devious plot of exploitation.

Now that Dad has been warehoused in a nursing home (via the healthcare power of attorney), son has free rein to use the financial power of attorney to access all of Dad's monies. Son can close accounts, open new accounts in son's name only, and transfer all of Dad's monies. Soon, Dad is broke and the nursing home bills will be paid for by the state.

Sounds incredible, but this is a true story. Fortunately, some help is available, but it requires someone to recognize that abuse is taking place and then step up to the plate and intervene.

In California, for example, nursing home personnel are mandated reporters. This means that the law requires that they report, to law enforcement or Adult Protective Services, any reasonable suspicion that elder abuse is occurring. The tip can be anonymous. Adult Protective Services would then interview Dad, the nursing staff, and son, and determine whether abuse is taking place and whether the matter needs to be referred to law enforcement.

An elder law attorney can also assist with civil litigation to freeze Dad's accounts, recover the monies wrongfully taken, and return Dad to his home with in-home health care assistance; provided, however, that son has not already spent most of Dad's money.

While a power of attorney for healthcare is an important tool, it can also be abused if placed into the hands of an unscrupulous person.

The Importance of Home Health

In Miami home health care is becoming more prevalent because of the overcrowding of hospitals. While that's not a bad thing, elderly care in Miami is beneficial to those who have very limited mobility. The specialization for elderly care professions range from nurses to speech pathologists. Where elderly care in Miami is especially important are for members of assisted or retirement communities.

Make no mistake about it, senior citizens need the deepest amount of healthcare and regardless of where they live. Imagine the benefits of having elderly care. There is no risk of an emergency in the transportation of patients from the home to the hospital.

Home health is becoming more prevalent because of the flexibility that if affords patients. It's also cost effective for hospitals and other health professions.

When living in an assisted living center or retirement community, it becomes especially beneficial because of the resources that are already there.

Home health professionals are trained to be aggressive and understanding the needs of every patient. More and more retirement communities are employing home health professionals because they are realizing that there are many benefits to it and structurally it makes sense for the retirement community.

Healthcare is a delicate thing today and you need the best care at any moment's notice. Home health is definitely a way to do so. Getting care at any point in the day is something that will benefit everyone. Allow home healthcare in Miami work for you. It will be the best decision for you and the family.

California LiveScan, A Real Background Check?

California LiveScan is the state run system administered by the California Department of Justice for criminal background checks and is available only on workers whose work includes working with children, the elderly and disabled. These include law enforcement agencies, public and private schools, non-profit organizations and in-home supportive care agencies. There is no other statewide criminal check available for employers. All school teachers, public and private, recreational workers and nursing home workers must be LiveScaned.

Church pastors and nursery workers are also eligible to use the program. Most churches use LiveScan if they already use it for their affiliated church school. Organizations who use this program send their applicants who have been conditionally hired pending the background check, to a LiveScan vendor who fingerprints the applicant (the applicant puts their fingerprints on a scanner which electronically scans the fingerprint, hence the name) submits the applicant's data online to the state where a statewide criminal check is performed and, if chosen by the organization ordering the report, a nationwide NCIC (FBI files) check is performed. The resulting information is then sent to the participating organization.

This system is one of the best in the in the country, but the purpose of this article is to point out that it does have what I consider to be major flaws that very few people know about. I think that it is very important, especially for parents, to know the system's limitations in hopes that someday the state will tighten the loopholes and more children will be protected.

The LiveScan system places strict limitations on what information is available and how that information is distributed. The criminal history report is sent to the organization's Records Custodian, which may or may not be the person making the hiring decision and in larger organizations it us usually not the same person. The Records custodian is only allowed to tell the person making the hiring decision that the person has passed or failed the LiveScan. They don't even get to know why that person has failed the background check.

SURPRISING FACT # 1. CALIFORNIA LIVE SCAN DOES NOT REPORT ALL CRIMINAL HISTORY The state of California has mandated that only records related to the following categories are revealed by LiveScan: 1. Crimes relating to child abuse or elder abuse 2. Sex Offenders 3. Convictions or incarcerations in the last 10 years as a result of committing: theft, robbery burglary or any felony.

Now, on its face the list above looks pretty good, but let's go over some of the crimes that it doesn't cover and as we go through the list try to think of your child's nanny or her Sunday school teacher engaged in these crimes. Here's a partial list: Assault, Accessory to a crime, Aiding and abetting, Bad check writing, Carrying a gun without a license, Contempt, Domestic Violence, False impersonation, Medicare fraud, Stalking, Drug possession, Indecent exposure, Misdemeanor Prostitution, Lewd conduct, Disorderly conduct, Disturbing the peace, Vandalism, Trespassing, Malicious mischief, Public drunkenness and the list goes on. I don't know about you, but before I would hire someone to work with children I think I would want to know if they are a pot-smoking, bar-fighting drunk-in-public type person. Most people would agree.

SURPRISING FACT # 2. LIVESCAN DOESN'T CHECK FOR ANY CIVIL RECORDS. OK maybe now you are thinking that this California LiveScan doesn't cover as much as you thought and you would be correct. It also doesn't cover any civil court rulings against a person such as Restraining orders, Non-molestation orders, Order for Protection and Injunctions (for things such as stalking). You don't think that is important? The Family Violence Prevention Fund estimates that up to three million women are the victims of domestic violence each year and restraining orders are one important way that they can protect themselves.

SURPRISING FACT # 3 LIVESCAN DOES NOT CHECK THE CALIFORNIA SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY (also known as the Megan's Law registry). THE PRECEEDING SENTENCE IS NOT A MISPRINT; IT'S TRUE! You can verify this by calling the California Department of Justice and asking them. Their number is 916 227-4974. By now you are probably asking yourself, "How in the world can this be true? A state system designed to protect children doesn't even check for drug offenders, wife beaters and sex offenders? That is unconscionable!" Even as I write this I find it hard to believe myself. It doesn't even check the Megan's Law list for sex offenders who have moved to California from another state who are required to register.

BUT WAIT; THERE'S MORE. There are even two more area that LiveScan does not check or report. When it searches criminal records, it only searches records where a person was fingerprinted. For a minor, non-violent crime people are sometimes issued a notice to appear, just like a traffic ticket. People who are arrested in that way are not fingerprinted. I understand that when big cities do things like prostitution sweeps that they sometimes use that method for both the prostitutes and their "clients". Also, if an arrest is found on someone's criminal history and there is no corresponding disposition such as a trial verdict, plea agreement or sentencing information, they withhold the information from you. The following quote is off their website: "Unless otherwise authorized by law, where only an arrest record exists but the Department is unable to obtain corresponding disposition information, the Department shall suppress that arrest information and provide the authorized agency with a response that no criminal history information exists."

As a person who has been in the background check business for 13 years and the father of two college age daughters, I would have designed the system very differently to say the least. I certainly would not have designed in holes big enough to drive a truck through and potentially let criminals have access to children. The more I study this information the more I am convinced that the State of California is more interested in protecting the rights of criminals than protecting children and the elderly. In all my dozens of conversations with pastors, school administrators and law enforcement people I have only spoken to one person, who was truly aware of the built-in limitations of the LiveScan system. Most people assume that if it is the state-run system then it must be the best and most complete.

As I was re-researching the data to write this article I also found that it is possible for someone to have their sex offence crime expunged after serving their sentence, but would still be required to be registered as a sex offender. That is one more very convincing reason to check the Megan's Law list.

Again, if someone was background checking my daughter's teacher, coach, counselor or pastor I would want a more thorough check and I expect better from the State of California on behalf of all children.

THE ALTERNATIVE: Most organizations who use LiveScan have to by state law, but if you have a choice you should consider a private sector background check from a reputable company that gives you all of the criminal information on a county by county basis, checks the civil records, the Megan's Law list and records from any other state where a person may have lived.

More Tips About Nursing Homes, Caution - Reading This Might Just Open Your Eyes!

These are the reasons why you---as public, need to join and help this country stop bad nursing homes and stop bad physical rehab centers, now or as soon as possible. We must stop the horrors that are happening behind those closed doors so that we can all rest peacefully at night.

Lately, after consulting with many people who have seen the inside of some nursing homes and some physical rehabilitation centers, I came to the conclusion that for the most part, going into one of these places with lack of mobility almost always guarantees that you get physically worse. I have seen people go into these places in fairly decent condition and come out in horrible condition. (Note, this article is about the bad places, not the decent ones).

If you do need physical rehabilitation try your best to get out-patient rehabilitation. That will probably be the best and the healthiest thing for you to do. You will get more exercise; you will have more control over your life and you will save yourself pain, grief and suffering.

Always opt for outpatient therapy if you can not walk. I am not a doctor or a physical therapist, nor am I a medical professional, but I have seen patients go in and out of these places, and have first hand knowledge of people getting more ill and becoming less independent after they enter some of the worst nursing homes and the worst physical rehabilitation centers in America.

Oh, the "worst" of the bunch are not even listed on the government's worst list. The real worst of the bunch have a controlling group of individuals--usually the higher-ups that manage to hide the horrors when the inspectors come to see the nursing homes. How do they hide this? Picture this scenario? Picture an inspector coming into a nursing home ( a horrible one), and signing in at the desk. Everyone has to sign in or at least show identification. Then, picture someone on the speaker making a seemingly harmless announcement, such as "Joe Smith wanted in the dining room" or something else like that. This announcement alerts the rest of the staff that the inspector is coming into the building.

Now, anyone who is not at their post, and most areas that are not being attended--can be manned and people can pretend to be attentive to patients. Administration or directors can keep the inspectors or investigators occupied while everyone "cleans up" the place. Or the place can be cleaned up as the inspector is being in the elevator.

For example, a nursing home having filthy clothing in the hallways, instead of having it brought to the laundry, can cover this up by grabbing all the laundry out of the hallways, depositing it into bins on wheels and wheeling it down the opposite hallway (from the opposite end of the hallway that the inspector is coming down). Yes, someone can spray ozone spray or disinfectant and this floor can be seemingly clean. This is all an illusion.

Once I visited a nursing home -physical rehabilitation center and exited off the elevator, since I was not an inspector, they made no announcement and no cleanup. The entire floor stunk of body fluids and filth. It was so bad that I almost got very ill. Some of the employees were actually used to the smell. Now, this is not your ordinary institution smell, but the smell of a floor that was unattended and the smell of patients who were in dirty diapers for hours and hours.

I witnessed a man with wet pants -dripping wet pants -having to sit there for hours while no one attended to him. And this man was able to walk by himself but he was not permitted to go to the restroom. As he walked down the hall, his filthy pants, dripping wet and stained looked very uncomfortable and most likely the way this man was reacting, this was something that he was used to putting up with.

Remember, the key things to look for when first finding a nursing home or rehab place:

• Watch what they do with residents clothing. How they treat residents' clothing might be a clue as to how they will treat your family member or you. One of the places that we visited was always losing clothing(this didn't happen at the better places), and that same place also lost residents. We had heard that one resident got 'loose' ---walked out--twice, when the staff didn't even know she was missing. One had got loose even when they had a one-on-one. The person left the patient and the patient walked right out of the door of this horrible nursing home and rehab center. AFTER that they got security--that asked for special identification- and all visitors had to take badges. Funny though, it wasn't a visitor that escaped, it was a patient.


• Watch how they treat family members. If they treat family members with a lack of respect, they will surely treat the residents worse than that. Look, open your eyes.

Now, this is a place that looks "nice" in the lobby, and it's a place that gives a good first impression, yet, it is a house of horrors described above... yet, it is still in business. And it still is not on the government's worst list.

What you have just read is the truth about one nursing home but yet, it could be the truth about a thousand nursing homes. Kindly visit your local homes. Get the public involved. Ask that your school or your workers be able to visit and be able to stay for a while. Watch those red warning flags when nursing homes seemingly do not want visitors and do not want outsiders, such as holiday singers etc, into their residences. Really do your research if you are interested in having a family member stay at any nursing home. Remember this --that what you see on visitors' day is not always what the patients or residence sees. Look clearly, long, and deep. Read between the lines to see the truth behind those curtains. And keep connected here. Your comment might be able to change lives and to change conditions inside the walls of nursing homes in your own city.

Updated 2012.

Long Distance Caregiving and the Role of the Geriatric Care Manager

Long distance caregiver is a new role that is thrust upon children and younger family members these days. After all, families used to live closer together, with children residing and working near their parents, but these days family members are more distant from each other.

According to a report by the Alzheimer's Association, 7 million Americans provide 80% of the care to ailing family members, there are approximately 3.3 million long-distance caregivers in this country with an average distance of 480 miles from the people they assist, and the number of long distance caregivers will double over the next 15 years. The report also states that 15 million days are missed from work each year because of long distance care giving.

Professional care managers (also known as geriatric-, elder-, or aging- care managers) represent a growing trend to help employed and/or distant family caregivers provide care for loved ones. Such experts assist caregivers, friends or family members provide care, make decisions, and find governmental and private resources. They are professionals who are trained to assess the abilities and needs of the elderly, and to evaluate and recommend care for them. Their backgrounds include fields such as nursing, social work, psychology, and gerontology.

These professionals are becoming extremely popular as the liaison between long-distance family members and their aging loved ones. That's why it is important to find a geriatric care manager where your loved one lives, since he or she will have knowledge of the resources in the area and can serve as your eyes and ears when it comes to your distant loved one.

The following is a partial list of what a care manager might do:

• Assess the level and type of care needed and develop a care plan.


• Put the care plan in place and keep it functioning.


• Make sure care is in a safe and disability-friendly environment.


• Resolve family conflicts and other issues.


• Become an advocate for the care recipient and the caregiver.


• Implement and manage long distance care.


• Conduct ongoing assessments to implement changes in care.


• Oversee and direct care provided at home.


• Coordinate the efforts of key support systems.


• Provide personal counseling.


• Arrange for services by legal and financial advisors.


• Arrange placement in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.


• Monitor the care received in a nursing home or in assisted living.


• Assist with the monitoring of medications.


• Coordinate medical appointments and medical information.


• Arrange or provide transportation to medical appointments.


• Assist families in their decision-making.

Services offered will depend on the educational and professional background of the care manager, but most are qualified to cover items in the list above or can recommend a professional who can. Fees vary. There is often an initial consultation fee that is followed by hourly or flat fees for services. Medical insurance usually does not cover these fees, but long-term care insurance might.

When you take into account the time absent from work and time to find the right care resources for your loved ones, along with the cost of travel expenses to monitor their care, you will probably agree that using a caregiver is money well spent. Add to this the stress of handling your own life circumstances combined with being a caregiver, and you will probably wonder how you could have ever done without the care manager.