Compare vs. contrast essay

Alternative medicine vs. traditional medicine

            Many people use traditional medicine to assist with illnesses and prevention of diseases.  Most people don’t think of the healing process as needing both alternative measures and traditional medicines.  Today I will compare and contrast both traditional medicines and alternative medicines. 

            First I will discuss traditional medicines, which most people use in this culture and in the United States of America.  There are many things we can do when someone we love become sick or we ourselves become sick.  There is Xrays when we have possible broken bones, or infections.  Also antibiotics are very common to be used with infections, but these are used too much and then it becomes a problem with germs becoming immune to it. Some invasive measures such as radiation, chemotherapy, are used if someone had a cancer diagnosis.  There are also IV’s for medications or fluids.  People may need slings or cast for broken bones, and many different medications for any disease diagnosis possible, even for the diseases that are not curable such as Alzheimer’s, certain Cancers, Parkinson’s and MS to name just a few.  Many of these can be successful for prolonging death, or in some cases curing some disease.   

            Next I will discuss alternative medicines, which are used more and more in this country, but are more open and used in other cultures such as the Chinese culture.  Some of these alternative Homeopathic measures people believe are more beneficial than traditional medicine.  I will discuss a few of them, such as Acupressure, in which trigger points are used to help promote healing.  There is chiropractic care which can help with overall health.  Homeopathy is the use of herbs and “potions” to help illnesses.  There are people that specialize in these.  Also people use Yoga, which is stretching and using your mind.  Acupuncture is the use of needles that are placed throughout your body in pathways to deliver triggers through your nerves.  There is also healing energy, and Reiki which is used to release negative energy from your body, now for this type of healing a person needs an open mind.  There are many different ways a person can attempt to heal there illnesses, aches and pains, and which ever you choose to do you must have a positive attitude.         

Proper handwashing

Process analysis Essay

Weds.  6:30pm-9:50pm

How to properly wash your hands

            I’m going to discuss the steps for proper hand washing to rid the hands of microorganisms, and to prevent the spread of infection and disease.  Most people focus on hand washing just in the medical field and food service workers and don’t focus on hand washing at home to stop the spread of infections. We will learn when to wash your hands, and proper techniques. Today we will learn the proper steps to effective hand washing. 

            People should be more alert as to when to wash their hands.  You should wash your hands after using the toilet, before and after handling food, pets, coughing, blowing your nose or sneezing, eating, caring for someone that is a patient, or someone that is ill, taking out garbage, and changing a diaper on babies.  All this hand washing helps stop the spread and transmission of diseases such as, ECOLI, Influenza, Niro viruses, and even the common cold.  Hand washing can stop the spread by 99%. 

            The proper techniques of hand washing are simple and easy to remember.  Step one is to wet your hands with clean running water, use cold or warm not hot this will dry out your skin and your hands may get chapped.  Step two, Apply soap; usually an antibacterial soap works best.  Step three; rub your hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds, you could sing the “Happy Birthday” song from start to finish.  Step four; rinse your hands under the running water thoroughly, till all soap is removed from your hands. Step five; Dry your hands with several paper towels but leave the water running until your hands are dry, then use new paper towels to shut off running water. 

            Once you get the hang of washing your hands, it is quick, easy and effective in stopping the spread of infections.  I hope after reading this essay, it taught you the importance of proper hand washing, and how to perform it.         

Do I have too

I never wanted to use CPR but needed it for this emergency.  I was so glad I had to have CPR required for my profession and Job.  I am a LPN at a nursing home where I have worked for a total of 16 -17 years.  I have worked as a LPN for 7 years and am now going back to school for my RN at WWTC.  I am in I never thought I would have too use CPR on someone, but when it came to a true charge of my own hallway, and do pretty much the same things that RN’s do at my work place, but that’s usually how all nursing homes are.  I am responsible for 27 residents daily, but ultimately all the nurses are responsible for all residents in a sense.  It seems like whenever there is major “drama” at my place of employment, I am always working.

            It was busy just like all other days, but I did have to make time to go to lunch to clear my head as they say, when one of the other nurses I work with came running into the chart room, stating “I need help, one of my residents are choking”, this resident was eating lunch with a family member and they waited longer than any of us nurses to come and find help.  She was gasping for air, and clearly her airway was occluded.

  My mind was racing and my adrenaline was in full force, but I did remain calm.  CPR is taught to us every 2 years a complete course.  I hate having to take the three hours after work to stay and do it again, but I know it is important.  I mean who wants to put in a full day of work and then stay and complete a class while still at work.  It’s like when you have completed a busy day, you just want to go home and unwind. 

The nurse in me kicked into high gear and we had to first check her oral cavity to see if we could pull anything out, finger sweep, nothing.  Feel for her pulse very faint but still there.  I hollered and pointed at another employee, “you go get the deliberator”.  Now I had to begin compressions, counting a one, and two, and three and so on up to twenty, feeling her ribs crunch at times, then my partner who was my boss by this time, gave two breaths with the ambu bag.  The ambulance was on its way and we could hear the sirens in the distance in the background.  No stopping now till they get here and can take over. It felt like we were doing CPR forever, but afterward we were only doing it for about 6 minutes before the paramedics took over.  This was like experience felt like I was someone watching not one of the people trying to save someone’s life. 

When the ambulance came in the room and took over, and took her away to the hospital, it actually sunk in what we had just went through, and all the emotions came over me all rushing in at once.  I thought did I just assist with trying to save someone’s life?  I knew I went into this career to help people but never wanted to have to use this skill.  I then imagine my children and thank goodness it was not one of them.  I then turned my thoughts back to this woman, hopefully she makes it, and returns the same, but statistically she would not.  My prayers turn to her family and hope for the best. 

My hospital room

Descriptive essay

            Waking up in my hospital room after a three hour back surgery was not the most pleasant thing I have been through.  A voice I did not recognize was calling my first name over and was very direct, “come on Melissa, come on wake up”.  I began to open my eyes very slowly, and blinking several times since I was very groggy.  The fluorescent lights were shinning harshly in my eyes as I was attempting to open them.  She stated “we have to take an X Ray of your back”, before I knew it two nurses were lifting my sides up and placing a hard X Ray plate under my back, before I knew it, they removed it. 

            When the nurses left my room, I finally got my wits about me, and realized I was actually out of surgery.  Mt throat and mouth felt like I had just ate a pile of flour and attempted to swallow it.  As I looked around the room, I saw a vital sign machine, the nurse was entering my room again to take my blood pressure, it was so tight on my arm that I couldn’t feel my fingers while she was pumping up the cuff.  There were two beds in the room, but nobody next to me in the other bed.  The covers were light blue and the walls were a pasty tan.  The TV’s were flat screens and mounted on the walls above each bed.  The window curtains were a whitish- tan and pulled together as to not let any sunlight in.  There was a two drawer night stand next to my bed with an older style fashion phone on top.  There was a pink water pitcher sitting on the night stand also, but just out of my reach.  Oh how I wanted a drink of ice cold water. 

            The nurse re-entered the room and asked “how are you feeling, can I get you anything”?  I replied “yes”, firmly, “I need a drink of that ice cold water”.  She poured me a glass of water and I drank it down without even breathing.  It was so refreshing on