NURSES fyi MAGAZINE – APRIL 2015 Issue 23

High Profile ER Nurse

Nursegrid App

Cover Story: Marina

Dedivanovic

Supersized Nation

Doctor of Nursing degree: the good, bad & ugly

Nurses fyi Magazine Content

Cover Story Marina Dedivanovic RN, ER. As seen on NY MED & NY ER on ABC, The Oprah Winfrey Network & Discovery Health channels

High Profile ER Nurse    

Features Editor’s Note A comment from the editor By Rich Williams RN

Medical Improv

By Beth Boynton RN, MS

Complimentary vs Traditional Medicine:

By Jennifer Gebhard APN & Judith L. Jones NP

Giving Veterans a choice !

As nurses do we need an experiential learning process like Medical Improv?!

Nurses fyi Magazine Content Supersized Nation

By Devorah Goldberg BS, RN

By David O’Dell DNP, FNP-BC!

By Zach Smith BSN-RN & Joe Novello, BSN-RN!

Why I left clinical nursing to become a writer: this is my story

By Rachel Kent Student Nurse

Smoking & the smoking ban:

By Elizabeth Hanes RN

CEO Guide Book

By Dr. Lisa Goins PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, RMT

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Reference tool for nursing entrepreneurs

Doctor of Nursing Degree:

NurseGrid App Apple app for nurses & their busy schedules

What are the Patient’s rights?

In love with oversized fattening & high-caloric foods !

Jennifer Gebhard & Judith L. Jones: Complimentary vs Traditional Medicine: Giving Veterans a choice

These therapies represent the therapeutic relationship between the practitioner and the patient, taking into account the whole person and their lifestyle. !!As advanced practice nurses/RNs practicing at veteran hospitals, we are in a perfect position to encourage veterans to continue to seek complimentary therapies (CT) balancing with conventional medicine. !!According to a March 2012 article published in Hospitals Health and Network magazine, the veterans’ health administration’s (VHA) interest in CT practices began in 1998 after a report was published based on site visits to 10 VHA facilities and a survey of VHA providers at all 22 integrated service networks. The report found that every selected VHA site reported some use of CT therapies and veterans with chronic conditions were using CT to manage their conditions.!!Carol Fletcher, PhD, RN of VHA Ann Arbor Medical Center in Michigan co-authored a December 2014 article in Medical Care magazine, detailing providers and administrators perceptions regarding CT. It concluded that ‘despite perceived challenges, providers and administrators recognized the value of CT and the potential of expansion of CT within the VHA.’!!In 2011, as a direct result of a cultural transformation grant, Richelle Rapaport, Advance Holistic Nurse with the Northport VHA Medical Center in New York, helped usher in a mind-body program with mental health services. She reports that the veterans who have had insomnia from post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) since Vietnam sleep better, have decreased anxiety, improved breathing and decreased pain.!!Janet Kyle Liston, of the Ashville VHA Medical Center in North Carolina, is a RN and licensed acupuncturist in private practice for 17 years. She found the single most helpful and traditional treatment for PTSD is an element of acupuncture called the treatment of the 7 internal Dragons. She states PTSD is diagnosed in Chinese medicine as the absence of the presence of spirit. This is evident when one looks into a patient’s eyes and is met with that ‘deer in the headlights’ gaze or the patient avoids eye contact altogether. This behavior can be interpreted as the patient’s spirit is not recognizable and he/she is not comfortable in their own skin. The treatment of the 7 Dragons normally calms this look. Subsequently, the patient reports a decrease in anxiety, tension, anger and hyperactivity.!!Francesca M. Cordi, a NP with the Atlanta VHA Medical Center in Georgia, states acupuncture is a tremendous benefit at her center. She says the staff!

Jennifer Gebhard

Judith L. Jones

A merican service members and veterans are considering complementary therapies over prescription drugs, and narcotics to help ease depression, stress, and joint pain. Complimentary therapies, (CT), include reiki, meditation, aquatherapy, supplements and acupuncture. !

“As advanced practice nurses/RNs practicing at veteran hospitals, we are in a perfect position to encourage veterans to continue to seek complimentary therapies (CT) balancing with conventional medicine.”!

Jennifer Gebhard & Judith L. Jones: Complimentary vs Traditional Medicine: Giving Veterans a choice

cannot see enough patients fast enough to be able to see each patient even once a week. Nurse Cordi states she is actively involved in finding alternatives to traditional care. She says ‘healing touch’ is one such modality. She says the veterans wanted more and more. The veterans became very disappointed, she says, when they could not be seen several times a week. Nurse Cordi believes that the more the veteran learns to do for him/herself, the better he/she will be in handling their pain successfully. This self- management, she says, leads to a better mental outlook.!!Laurieanne Nabinger, a RN with masters in oriental medicine and acupuncture with the Seattle VHA Medical Center in Washington, says she experiences how the VHA can integrate the science of eastern medicine within a traditional medical model of care. She says after a 45-minute treatment, “I have heard many veterans tell me about their experience in finding complete relaxation.” !!Maria N. Anderson, a LPN with the Portland VHA Medical Center in Oregon, who works with healing touch, tells the story of a female veteran who suffered from chronic pain and poor mobility. At the initial session, the patient’s pain was at a nine and she believed she could function at a seven.!!Nurse Anderson said, “I told her I could not promise her anything, but after the session, the patient sat up and began to cry stating her pain level was now at a 0”. She hadn’t felt pain free in over ten years.!!Stan Rintelmann, a nurse practitioner at the Milwaukee Zablocki VHA Medical Center in Wisconsin, chairs the complementary and alternative medicine/healing touch committees. He says that in the four years he’s provided healing touch to those veterans suffering from spinal cord injuries, the veterans report reduction in pain and stress.!!A nurse research scientist, Jill Bormann, PHD, RN, FAAN, who is associate nurse executive for nursing research with the San Diego VHA Medical Center in California, has pioneered the effects of the mantram repetition program. A mantram is a sacred word used to train attention and calm the mind. Dr. Bormann finds it rewarding for those veterans suffering the effects of PTSD. One veteran stated ‘the mantram worked for me to stop the flashbacks before they were full blown.’!!Doreen Korn, Advance Holistic Nurse with the East Orange VHA Medical Center in New Jersey, oversees the integrative yoga program. She says at regular intervals veterans are asked to provide feedback regarding the program. One veteran, struggling with chronic back pain stated, “I look forward to yoga. It puts me in a place where I feel safe and can relax my body. “Another stated after feeling ‘heavy’ for such a long time, he felt ‘lighter’, physically and emotionally. Nurse Korn adds that the majority of the veterans joined yoga to ‘get off pain medications.’!!

Jennifer Gebhard

Judith L. Jones

“…the patient sat up and began to cry stating her pain level was now at a 0”. She hadn’t felt pain free in over ten years.”!

Jennifer Gebhard & Judith L. Jones: Complimentary vs Traditional Medicine: Giving Veterans a choice

Our viewpoint is that Advance Practice Nurses/RN’s use evidence-based research to do what we believe in. We can use this as part of our education to help other providers support and expand CT therapies within and outside the VHA.!!Echoing the views of Nancy Maclaren a RN with the Ann Arbor VHA Medical Center in Michigan, who practices healing touch, nurses can continue to create environments to promote self-healing. We do this when we administer a medication, dress a wound, change a bed, offer ice chips or hold a hand. This is part of our gifts to the patient. It is what we do.!!Jennifer’s Bio:!I am an Adult Nurse Practitioner and Holistic Nurse Practitioner. I am also a licensed Massage therapist in Swedish and Oriental Style ( AMMA). Advanced Craniosacral therapist, Reiki Master and Herbalist.! !I work in out patient primary care in our Veterans Administration System.!I have my own home based business with Reiki, Massage and Craniosacral therapy. !!I am married , two almost grown children, 3 dogs, and 4 birds, I live in Greenlawn NY, on Long Island.! !My website is: www.Nexuspoint.org!!Jennygeb@gmail.com !!Judith’s Bio:!I am an adult health NP working currently as a primary care provider with the Veterans Administration in Northport, NY. I have been a NP for the past eight years and enjoy it. !!

Jennifer Gebhard

Judith L. Jones