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Archive for year: 2015
Interpersonal Communication Skills
In Class Listening Activity:
The listening activity that we did in class is one of my favorite activities. I did it for training back in August for my current position but we did eight and five minute intervals. That was really difficult, and in those cases I had a harder time being the talker than the listener. I could still tell you details from when I was the listener. For me, I think I could improve upon being more aware of the body language of both me and the person talking. To me, listening means having a good amount of eye contact to show that you’re present, but then you miss everything else, like did they shift in their seat because they’re uncomfortable? Did they smile because they’re talking about something they love?
Reading Reflection:
I think the two that come the most naturally to me are: “the helping relationship takes place by mutual consent” and “the helping relationship shows a clear structure” (pg. 103). I believe those two come the most naturally to me because I’m really big on boundaries. It took me a long time and a lot of miscommunication to understand that it is okay to sit down with someone and say “here are my boundaries” and now it’s my favorite thing, because establishing personal boundaries with someone means you have (hopefully) made clear your expectations and that leads to less miscommunication.
I could work on ” the helping relationship is designed to produce change.” Reflecting back on times I have been in helping relationships, I can see that there was development and change for us as people, but I didn’t go in with the mindset of “change/development is one of our main goals.” I think that by goal setting, either in my own head or with the other person, the helping relationship can be even more helpful.
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Heart healthy or hype?
Heart Health or Hype? Exploring the effect of diet trends on cardiovascular disease
This article looks at diet trends for cardiovascular health, mainly foods that are supposedly “especially good for the heart,” and find out whether they are heart healthy or hyped. I already knew that omega-3 fatty acids were heart healthy, but was surprised to hear about how the others affected cardiovascular health.
Cranberries – Heart healthy! Cranberries are rich in flavonoids which help reduce the oxidation of LDLs (bad one) which usually make up atherosclerotic plaques. They also help improve lipid profiles by increasing HDL and lowering LDL levels in the blood. Only a small amount is needed to get their good effects, so an occasional cranberry snack is good enough to be cardioprotective! Just make sure to get the fresh version.
Dark chocolate and cocoa – Heart healthy! Chocolate has a lot of catechins (which are flavanoid compounds) and procyanidins (another type of flavonoid). Like the same mechanism as mentioned above, they reduce the oxidation of LDLs and accumulation of plaque. Good to note though: you can’t just gorge on chocolate on top of your normal diet! If adding chocolate, there needs to be an elimination of an equivalent source of calories and maintenance of proper nutrition. Like the commercials say: EAT DARK CHOCOLATE! (part of a balanced, nutritional diet—shows a million vegetables and fruits)
Milk – Heart healthy! Although dairy contains CVD promoting fat and cholesterol, higher milk intake decreased incidence of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, and weight gain (especially abdominal fat). Dairy foods regulate energy metabolism and have antihypertensive effects (peptides from lactic acid bacteria in milk inhibits ACE enzymes and endothelin release). Low fat, skim milk, and yogurt are good options for people who want to increase dairy consumption.
Omega-3 fatty acids – Heart healthy! Omega-3 fatty caids have antiatherogenic, antithrombotic, and antiarrhythmic effects – all contribute to prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Diet plays a huge role in cardiovascular health, and some foods do have more benefits than others. It’s important to remember that food alone cannot prevent heart disease but it does have the power to heal. Regular exercise on top of a balanced diet with some of these heart healthy foods can help maintain a healthy heart.
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Congratulations to Hannah Kim, the President of CI Computer Girls club, for being awarded full scholarship to attend the “2015 ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference”
Way to go Hannah, thank you for proudly representing CI at this prestigious event http://tapiaconference.org/
You hear me but, you are not listening!
Previously participating in the “Listening” activity in class, I believe that there is room for improvement in my listening. What I found from this activity, when giving my undivided attention to any individual I need to be fully engaged. I learned that I need to give individuals more time to speak aside from quickly giving my input. It was interesting to realize how much information I gained just by listening to the speaker for a single minute. I believe in everyday conversations I may speak to much and not listen enough. One aspect of listening I did find rather naturally was my ability to make eye contact. I believe making eye contact if very important because you might be able to comprehend what a speaker is saying by their body language. I feel over the years I’ve grown fond to making eye contact and observing gesture more. One thing I found different was not being able to make any verbal responses, instead I nodded my head. When engaging in a conversation I feel the need to assure that I am listening by throwing in a “mmhmm” or “yeah I get you” so it was different. I’m not sure which would be considered a more correct way.
Out of the ten characteristics associated with a helping relationship, I believe I identify with the following:
- The helping relationship is meaningful
- The helping relationship involves feelings
- The helping relationship demonstrates respect for individual self-worth
- The helping relationship is a collaborative effort
I feel these are characteristics that come naturally because I enjoy learning from new perceptions and at the same time I get to share my perceptions. I also believe I am a sentimental person who can consistently relate or have empathy for someone else’s perceptions. I realize when hearing new perspectives I might have some bias’s. Despite my own bias’s I know I have to show respect to others and be open minded about their perceptions. While being opened minded I feel it is important to let others think creatively while taking a collaborative approach.
Out of the ten characters associated with a helping relationship, I feel I need to improve on the following Characteristics:
- The Peer educator is approachable as a secure person
- The helping relationship shows clear structure
These are the characteristics I feel I can improve on. To begin, I feel like I’m not sure if peers see me as a approachable person. I say this because some people may feel more uncertain based off image, for example I have tattoos. Personally I feel I am very approachable and secure as a person but you never know. Next, I believe when I am participating in every day helping relationships I don’t think about the main purpose. In any peer relationship when I am speaking I can get lost in my own words and forget what we initially were talking about.
I feel a start to improving first, overall I could be confident in my ability to help anyone who may be uncertain to seek my help. Little things such as having that extra confidence can make a huge difference your good deeds may not go unnoticed. Next, I feel like I could be a better listener in general by listening more and thinking less about what I will say. I feel by doing this I may not get so lost in my words and will gain more out of listening. I do recognize these characteristics will not come easily and will be something I have to work on daily.
It’s Aliiiiiive!
It is no surprise that technology is an enormous part of our lives – it just is. The format of this very class attests to that. I am fascinated by what is out there these days technologically. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I have been able to experience what life was like before all the gizmos and gadgets. Years ago, I used to attend one of the biggest computer/technology conventions that was held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada. The best of the best were showcasing their latest products and the newcomers even had a platform to introduce their new piece of the technology pie. It is nothing short of amazing of how far advances in technology since then have been made.
One of the most amazing technologies, hands down, is our cellphones. But, who calls them cellphones anymore? They are “Smartphones”, right? And, smart they are…well actually it is the developers behind the iPhones and Smartphones who are smart. We have all seen, and probably would not want to live without, many of the “apps” that make our lives more organized, keep us in touch with family and friends, keep us abreast of what is happening in the world via social media, and the list goes on. We could all probably agree that we look on our phone to “see if there is an app for that”. I’ve seen my share of really spiffy apps that have made a positive difference in my life. Could I do without it? Probably, but it sure is nice to have it. Now that I am a soon to be nurse, I am more than ever interested in what is available on our smartphones for medical purposes. I found something interesting.
A company by the name of AliveCor has turned our smartphones into a medical device. According to Haw (2014) “Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and, if left untreated, is a significant risk factor for stroke and heart failure.” Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted AliveCor clearance for its algorithm to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib). AliveCor has an automated process (algorithm) that analyses and instantly detects if a patient is experiencing atrial fibrillation via real-tiime electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. And, so you say? Well, a patient does not go to the doctor’s office or hospital for this ECG. The ECG is taken on a mobile phone based with AliveCor’s Heart Monitor. The AliveCor Heart Monitor records, stores and transfers ECG rhythms.This real-time ECG is seen by the patient’s doctor who can immediately intervene before a life-threatening event, such as a stroke, occurs. Patients can use AliveCor’s ECG analysis service to confirm their ECG results with a U.S. board-certified cardiologist or a personal physician.
Healthcare professionals, patients with known or suspected cardiac conditions and health conscious individuals are the target consumers for the AliveCor Heart Monitor. AliveCor says, “The monitor is compatible with all iPhone models and most Android mobile devices. This monitor is the perfect example of some of the amazing technology that is out there for cardiac conditions. Users will continue to have the ability to access their data confidentially anytime, anywhere.”
http://www.alivecor.com
References
Haws, J. (2014). Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: An update. British Journal Of Cardiac Nursing, 9(8), 376-380.
Reducing Stroke Risk During Cardiovascular Procedure
In the current age of technology, there are new procedures and treatments are being developed every day to improve patient outcomes in the medical field. Heart disease affects many people in the United States which demonstrates a need for improved cardiovascular therapies. Carotid artery disease (CAD) occurs when the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain, become narrowed as a result of plaque build up along the artery wall. Treatment for CAD involves an angioplasty and stent insertion to restore adequate blood flow to the brain.
Traditionally, stent and angioplasty procedures have been preformed by going through the femoral artery to access the carotid artery to improve blood flow to the brain. With these procedures, there is a risk of stroke resulting from plaque debris (cholesterol) loosened during the procedure. This year, a new system has been cleared by the FDA to reduce this stroke risk. The ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection System (ENROUTE TNS) is the first system designed to access the carotid artery directly through the neck. Once there, the system reverses blood flow from the artery, sending the blood through a filter to gather the loosened debris, and then back into blood stream. Once implemented, this new cardiovascular procedure can improve patient outcomes.
FDA clears system to reduce stroke risk during stent and angioplasty procedures: Minimally-invasive system is first to access carotid arteries through the neck rather than the groin. (2015, February 9). Retrieved February 15, 2015, from http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm433482.htm
