Archive for month: September, 2015

                               The Sixties: The Revolution of a Generation

Back then you could see the fear in young men’s eyes and how they were overjoyed to return to their homes and to their friends and family. This was a very important time in American history also known as the 1960’s that can vary depending on the topic. There are moments from both Martin Luther King and resident Kennedy’s assassination, to African Americans pushing further for equality with riots and fights with police. Among other things but one of the most important is without a doubt the America’s involvement I the Vietnam War. Back the at the beginning it seemed to have gained traction but turned to be just a waste of time defending a nation that didn’t even want Americans involved in the first place. We sent thousands of troops overseas because we were simply afraid of communism spreading and eventually leading to the shores of the United States. There was nothing to fear and no reason to send so many of our young brave men to die for no just cause.

The Vietnam War was considered one of the most senseless wars in the history of the United States. We  were in the middle of it say in the 1962- 1967 or so when people began to protest about ending the war and bringing the troops home. Research shows that about 20,000 casualties were reported in Vietnam involving American troops so far. Mainly college students started protesting about it how there simply sending them over to die when they should have pulled out long ago. Riots break out in nearby college communities and cities across the United States demanding that they bring them home. Also that others were sending letters to the president asking for them to return their troops home or at least explain to them why they ae still  fighting in Vietnam.

I have actually read those letters sent to him from nearly half a century ago and they are pretty interesting because they tell him that they want their kids back for various reasons that vary from simply being out of danger to outrageous ones like keeping some shunned from the rest of the world. There was something even more shocking however and that’s the governments reasons they sent back to the families of those troops. For example, one letter from Ms. Nelson in San Diego, CA asks why her son was deployed into Laos in Vietnam. Former post Commander John R. Betts make mentions of how some of those responses included “protection of vehicles” and “suspicious vicinity activity” and others mentioned in letters sent to parents including Ms. Nelson’s. Parents who received these letters acted in outrage and some of them even joined protests taking place both on the streets and on campus to voice out their opinions to Congress and the president.

Everyone knew that by this point that we couldn’t win the war no matter how many troops we sent there. Then the President finally chose to remove all the American troops back home a couple of years later in 1975. Though it took them so long to finally remove all our troops we will never forget those great moments of American history. People demanding that there soldiers be returned even though it was either violent or non-violent. College students being beaten down by police for wanting their friends to return to finish their education and have a normal life. From either becoming great men or starting families with the ones they love. The Vietnam War is one of the most infamous in U.S. history that should never be repeated again without a just cause. Hopefully that day will never come to pass but until then never forget the event that happened during this era of change.

I would like to see a United States congress filled with House and Senate members that represent their constituencies to the best of their ability. Actual political representation is seen when a constituency is happy with the choices their elected official has made on their behalf. I see this best played out by electing politicians based on whether they have represented their constituencies best, therefore using a delegate form of political representation. The trustee form of political representation rests its success on whether the individual elected made a correct move, based off of their own judgment. Although, for an office such as President of the United States, the trustee form of government seems almost necessary. Representing every demographic of the U.S., the executive leader needs to be able to make decisions based off of their own judgement. However in local and congressional elections, as Hannah Pitkin said, “representation is to make present again”, with a delegacy form of political representation, those elected would take into consideration their actual constituencies and make those masses present again.

An example would be the representatives from the state of Missouri. Out of Missouri’s eight representatives in the U.S. congress there are only two democratic representatives, the same two that are the only african americans. With the Ferguson riots one year passed, african american citizens are dependent on the predominately white representation that they have in congress to represent them, at a very crucial time. I’m not saying we elect our representatives based on race, I am implying that not every white representative will empathize with the struggle that it is to be a person of color in our society. Therefore, we should not elect those who cast their votes based off of their own personal views. We should allow the masses to decide what is best for our society, to a degree of social issues, social goods, and civil liberties. Accordingly, many of these issues are held at state level, therefore the delegacy form of representation would work best to elect state/local leaders, including congress.

I would like to see, not just congress members, but all politicians going into politics for the sake of representing their constituencies fairly. In the Congress: The Electoral Connection reading, Mayhew writes, “It seems fair to characterize the Congress as an assembly of professional politicians spinning out political careers. The jobs offer good pay and high prestige.” While the position of being a representative should receive compensation, I believe that treating government for personal gain to rise through the ranks will eventually result in a lost connection with their constituencies. Praise and high prestige should go to those who go above and beyond what they are expected from their position. A concrete behavior that I would like to see would be representatives frequenting their entire jurisdiction, and composing regular poll tests to see what the public opinion actually is, not just what the representative assumes, and act on it. This type of behavior is important because if representatives lose connection with their voters, then who are we voting into congress? People who can deliver a nice speech? People who see you no more than a ballot towards their paychecks?

As with any aspect in nursing, technology can be effectively used if utilized in the appropriate manners and can benefit in patient care and safety. I think that healthcare professionals should be open to change and embrace technology, because that is the direction that the healthcare field has already taken. Those who are not flexible to adapt to these changes will be faced with struggles in the future.

An example that comes to mind involves the use of paperless charting and electronic physician orders at the facility that I currently work at. A few years ago, these changes were implemented at my hospital. Yes, it was a struggle to adapt and with any new changes there were hiccups in the process along the way. But eventually, we collectively reached out goal of paperless charting, electronic medication administration, and physician-entered orders. These changes help promote patient safety because of safeguarding against medication errors, and reducing the risks of incorrect orders via telephone or verbal orders. Charting is also more effective and easier to manage.

Another use of technology that promotes patient well-being is the increasing access to their own medical records. Patients can have access to their laboratory values, diagnostic exams, and have electronic methods of contacting their care providers with questions and follow up information.

Bumex

Who?

• used for edema due to heart failure, hepatic disease, or renal impairment

What?

• a loop diuretic,
• inhibits the reabsorption of sodium and chloride from the loop of Henle and distal renal tubule, increase
• increases renal excretion of water, NaCl, Mg, K, Ca

When?

• may be administered over 12hrs for patients with renal impairment

Where?

• PO & IV most common administrations
• given as a chronic home med and in acute care

Why?

• to get rid of excess fluid

How?

• PO: 0.5mg-2mg/day given in 1-2 doses
• IM/IV: 0.5mg-1mg/dose may repeat every 2-3hrs as needed