Saturday, October 10, 2009

Education Mornings

Hi All
There are two education mornings comming up. Both on the 28th of November. One in Rotorua and the other in Dunedin. So put them in your diary and watch out for the flyer that will be posted soon. Remember continuing education hours will be awarded!
Happy learning.
Teena

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Well a lot has changed in the world since I wrote my last blog with the question when to stay at home with a winter cold and when not to? H1N1 Flu has added to the debate and changed the rules some what. Tell me what is happening in your area.
Regards Teena

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Should I stay home from work today with a cold?

Here I am nose dripping, eyes streaming, head pounding and a sneeze that renews my commitment to pelvic floor exercises. If I stay at home today I know my colleagues will have a hard day ahead covering for me. Clinics are packed and the ward busy. They may or may not find another nurse to come in. However, if I go to work with my contagious rhinovirus I may infect my patients, those on the surgical ward and those at pre admit clinic with surgery scheduled in the next week or so. I may generously give this nasty little virus to my colleague causing a run of sick calls over the next week. It is truly a dilemma. What do all good nurses when they are faced with a dilemma? I Googled it. Not that I found a definitive answer as to ‘should I go or should I stay’, but I did find out some interesting facts from a web page http://www.commoncold.org/

Most common virus is the rhinovirus
Symptoms can develop 10 to 12 hours after exposure
Symptoms peak at 36 to 72 hours
One is most contagious in the first 3 days
The virus is transferred via droplets, skin and contaminated objects and surfaces.

Do you have a policy or guideline in your area to help you make that judgement call? Or do you have an understood culture that determines what the expected action is? I would love to have your comments as we head into another season of the common cold.

Teena Robinson

Sunday, March 29, 2009

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This blog is a recent development of the NZONA website.

Please check back to this blog regularly for new posts.