Wednesday, February 6, 2013

I can see the light!!!

It has been nearly a year since my last post. I missed posting about my Maternity and Mental Health semesters, which were AMAZING!!! My classmates and I laugh at ourselves because every semester and clinical semester "WAS AMAZING!!!" We change our minds just about every clinical day and it's fun to share our experiences. As a nursing student I can tell you that clinical is the favorite part of any semester. That applies to every semester for me. Exams, papers and nursing care plans on the other hand.....bleck!
Maternity was pretty flippin' awesome! I was privileged to be present during 2 C-Sections and one Vaginal Birth which were equally emotional. Word of advice, while holding the mom's leg and the doctor says "OK take a deep breath and push, push, push", it's not ok for you to do it along with her because chances are....you're gonna pass out! Ha, ha, ha So 2 princesses and 1 prince later (and tons of care plans and assessments)I wrapped up Maternity with a day in the NICU. Although I thought I wasn't going to be able to handle the NICU I enjoyed my day there. Now that I'm in my Critical Care rotation I see the same equipment on a much larger scale and its still all very intimidating!
As a Mental Health Technician I was excited for my Mental Health rotation. It has always been near and dear to my heart and I always believed its where I would start my nursing career. Everyone says you should always start in Med/Surg and that may be true for some but I have seen some recent grads opt for Mental Health.
Now I'm in my final semester and Critical Care is....NO JOKE. I now see how Med/Surg set the stage for Critical Care. Now while I think my Med/Surg professor slipped up in some very crucial areas, I'm catching on to vents, titration, meds and the dreaded ECG interpretations. I was lucky enough to find an awesome site that helps with this. www.skillstat.com has helped tremendously!! During this rotation I've been on the Open Heart Unit and it has been very rewarding for me. In the following weeks I will move on to my Acute Care rotation which I'm hoping will be a breeze after completing what seemed more difficult with Critical Care.
Most rewarding and career guiding moment for me so far this semester was my day in the ED. I enjoy fast paced, every changing and rewarding work and I found that in Emergency Department Nursing. I found that I can have the best of all of my nursing experiences in one location. I used EVERYTHING I learned that day and it had the multitasking that I do great with. In an administrative position I made even the most boring part of my day enjoyable and while I don't think I will ever be bored in the ED, I plan to bring that talent along with me IF I'm blessed to land in the ED. Here's hoping!!!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Med/Surg - 215


Holy heck! I mean no one ever said that being a nursing student was easy....but DAMN!!!

Midway through Med/Surg and although my Clinical days are thoroughly enjoyable, lecture is frustrating! I thought I had a handle on the NCLEX style of questions but apparently I continue to look to deeply into the questions. My exam grades suffer but I am determined to "dig deeper" as my advisor said.

I've been told this is one of the most difficult semesters....uhhhh I agree!!! Failure is not in my vocabulary....I got this!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Preparing for Nursing 101

Yesterday evening I went to the bookstore to pick up my textbooks for class. Holy crow!!! I asked for a box, because the bags were just not going to cut it. I picked up 9 of the 10 I need for this ONE class. Three of the books are approximately 2.5 inches thick and all I could think of was "I hope I don't have to carry anymore than one at a time to class." I'm already looking into a rolling crate to lug these bricks around!

Today I decided I needed to review Fundamentals of Nursing and the several reading assignments sent to us over the summer. I took a post-it pad and flagged the pages and material I needed to review. I'm not even a third of the way through my reading but I already am very excited to get to class Monday morning and review the material in class. I've already taken out the trusty hi-lighter and marked up my textbook.

What I enjoy about this book is that they added "Through the Eyes of a Student" stories and its relieving to see that other people with my same passion for nursing had that "What was I thinking?" feeling and still continued with their dream because they grew from the experiences that they thought initially would have them throwing in the towel. I look forward to clinicals and learning from my own experiences.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

One step closer!

It has been a while since I've posted. So much has happened in the past year! I rocked AP2 and thoroughly enjoyed the studying.....Who said that?? Best part of it all is I MADE NCC's RN PROGRAM!!!! Woo hoo!!! Party time

I busted my butt and it paid off. I'm so proud of myself. It's almost time to get back to classes. August 22nd is day one of Nursing 101. The reading assignments are already coming in and the list of books I need is a mile long. I look forward to diving in and learning more. While I will miss my amazing Anatomy and Physiology professor, I look forward to meeting my new professors and classmates. I am sooooo ready for the next step closer to my dream!



BRING IT ON!!!!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Mark For Life T-Shirt




On The Doctors they did a segment on tips for early detection of breast cancer. They showed a t-shirt that is being marketed to assist women with self breast exams. Performing self-exams is unerving to begin with because most women don't know what they're looking for. Created and introduced in 2004 by two Atlanta women, the "Mark For Life" T-shirt was an idea they came up with to teach women how to properly conduct a breast self exam and illustrate where potentially cancerous breast tissue exists. More importantly, they wanted a product that would allow women to track the results of their monthly exams to enable them to compare against past exams for any changes.




Interesting facts from their website at markforlife.com:
97% of women survive breast cancer when it is discovered early.
90% of women who get breast cancer have no family history.
70% of women find their own breast cancer using breast self-exams.







The T-Shirt comes with an instruction card listing 9 steps for use of the kit. Utilizing the enclosed marker you follow the spirals on the form fitting shirt and mark this shirt up to take it with you to your next doctors appointment and you can discuss your findings with your doctor. So many times women do not remember where they may have felt something questionable and cannot recall the location. This T-shirt eliminates that problem. There are even monthly reminder stickers to mark your calendar as well as an email address you can submit to for reminders.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Acting F.A.S.T. Can Save Your Life




May is Stroke Awareness Month. What are the signs and symptoms of a stroke?










Did you know that acting "FAST" can save your life:

It's important to remember that not all the warning signs occur in every stroke. Don't ignore any signs of stroke, even if they go away.

Remember to check the time. When did the first warning sign or symptom start? You'll be asked this important question later. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. tPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours of stroke symptom onset.

If you have one or more stroke symptoms that last more than a few minutes, don't delay. Immediately call 9-1-1.

If you're with someone who may be having stroke symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1 or the EMS. Expect the person to protest — denial is common. Don't take "no" for an answer. Insist on taking prompt action.

Prevention is key when you've a history of high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Along with regular medical check-ups, maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise, it's also recommended to:

Avoid excess fats: Eating a lot of fat, particularly saturated fat and cholesterol, may contribute to atherosclerosis, which is associated with stroke.

Avoid excess sodium: Excess sodium in the diet is linked to hypertension.

Limit alcohol intake: Individuals who have more than two or three alcoholic beverages a day are at an increased risk of stroke.

For more information visit the American Stroke Association's their website at strokeassociation.org

Saturday, May 1, 2010

For Patrick....I love you Sweetie.




For my nephew Patrick, an amazing kid I might add, who has Cystic Fibrosis. I decided to post information about his donation page, to inform people about CF and bring attention to his cause.

In hopes to raise money to find a cure and awareness about CF, this little darling has named his team named "Cough Up the Bucks." The name comes from his "hopes that all will dig deep and cough up a few bucks to help him make a difference."

Patrick, along with all the other CF kids would like CF to someday stand for Cure Found.



To register as part of Pat's Team, or to simply made a secure donation , Please visit his page.


So what Is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:

. clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and
. obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.



In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including:

very salty-tasting skin;
persistent coughing, at times with phlegm;
frequent lung infections;
wheezing or shortness of breath;
poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite; and
frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements.

Statistics
About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.
More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two.
More than 40% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.
The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is more than 37 years.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Allergies




My daughter suffers from allergies which can trigger her asthma at any given time. Trying to find the right medication, whether OTC or scripted, is a challenge. There are so many different medications out there and it really is trial and error. Benadryl seems to knock her out within the hour. Other medications just have her "feeling like her head is floating" and only slightly relieves the allergy symptoms.

I took her to our family doctor who performed a blood test and diagnosed her with some common allergies which include dust and pollen of course. Nothing really surprising other than a slight allergy to milk. Which to me doesn't make sense because she can drink up the milk and leave me with none for a bowl of cereal and not once has she had an "allergic reaction." My daughter begged the doctor for a note for school so that she can have water or juices with her lunch. We haven't seen any significant changes....because she still drinks up all the milk. NOW she's upset because the school won't allow her to drink milk with her lunch. I told her that's what she gets for being a blabber mouth.



Getting back to allergy relief, this spring season has been killer on her allergies. The best allergy medication for her (this year) has been Claritin D. It's the 24 hour type of relief so she only has to take it once a day. That has been key since she's horrible at remembering to take her medication. Go figure, she's the one that suffers the watery eyes, sneezing, and just feeling miserable, yet she forgets. Apparently, hindsight is not 20/20 when you're "Super Teen."

Most importantly, as with any medication, its best to take it before your symptoms show their ugly head. Using an OTC nasal salt water rinse also cleans out deposits that may trigger allergic reactions.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Spicey tips




While reading Women's Health magazine I learned that some spices have healing powers. Did you know????

Allspice blocks glycation, which is connected to aging.


Aniseed (anise) aids in digestion and stamps out date-killing bad breath.

Chili powder curbs appetite and reduces calorie intake.

Cinnamon contains antioxidants that keep blood sugar and energy levels on an even keel.

Cumin is used to improve digestion and contains more energy-boosting iron than other spices.

Curry Powder contains antiocidants that may combat heart disease by reducing fat buildup in arteries.


Fennel Seeds have a licorice-like flavor and if you chew on a few you can freshen up your breath and help relieve bloating after a pig-out.

Ginger Powder is an anti-inflammatory compoud that can tame postexercise muscle pain.

Mustard is high in selenium, which may protect against skin cancer.

Paprika is brimming with vitamin A, which aids vision, bone growth, and immunity.

Saffron has been found to ease PMS symptoms.


and my personal "Wow Really?" is Vanillin, the active component in vanilla, has been shown to help kill cancer cells.

Incorporate some of these spices into your recipes for some yummy, healthy and healing dishes.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Deals, deals, deals




I wanted to take this opportunity to share a special deal that I found for students from Microsoft. Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 is available at a 91% discount to qualifying students. That's not a typo....91% discount ($59.95) to current students of a registered and approved and you must have a valid .edu email address.

Visit Microsoft's site to verify that you qualify and you can see all of the highlights of this special offer. You can also find other deals on this site especially for students.

Happy shopping and saving.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Safe gardening




While gardening this past weekend I discovered two things. One is just how important stretching is prior to any type of strenuous activity. I awoke muscles that have been sleeping even while I'm at the gym. Two days of extending my flower beds which including tearing out lawn, beating the lawn sections to get the dirt out of them, bagging, dragging, cultivating soil and fighting off the dog, really took a toll on my body. I didn't "feel it" until Sunday evening.

The second thing I discovered is no matter how how much the sun is covered by clouds, skin protection is important. Although I didn't get sunburned I did notice a bunch of freckles that I normally get when I'm out in the sun too long.

I did remember to keep hydrated. I drank so much water that I could hear sloshing as I was going along. So here are my tips for gardening stretches and sun protection:

Stretching:




Sun protection:
While researching minimum SPF, which I believed was 15. I discovered the new recommended minimum, by the American Academy of Dermatology, is SPF 30. Doctors are now recommending SPF 30 to their patients and the reasoning behind this is that those that do apply sunscreen are not doing it as often as they should so at SPF 15 they were really receiving only half of the recommended protection. Therefore, at SPF 30, at the minimum you're receiving SPF 15 and adequate protection.




Utilizing a hat and other gear is recommended as well while working in the sun.


I did a lot of work in the garden and the rewards are still to come. I can't wait to add more to the new beds and to watch the new perennials bloom and get stronger every year. Happy & Safe Gardening.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Best and worst brain foods

I was reading today about foods that are good and bad for your brain. Being three quarters of the way done with this semester, which has been hell I might add, I wanted to see what I should be consuming/avoiding. At this point I'll try anything. So here's what I've found.




To help you concentrate: Studies found that the scent of peppermint is supposed to help you focus and boost performance. Better yet, when you have a long drive peppermint helps you to remain more alert and less anxious.


For sharpened senses: Include a tablespoon of ground flaxseed daily to your diet. You can sprinkle it on salads or add it to a smoothie or shake. Flaxseed is a healthy fat that improves the function of the cerebral cortex.



For good moods: Eat more leafy greens such as spinach, chard or arugula. According to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, a lack of B6 can cause nervousness, irritability, and even depression.

Looking for an energy boost: Stay away from a high-carbohydrate breakfast such as pancakes or bagels. Choose instead a high-protein breakfast. Two hours after eating, the carb eaters had tryptophan levels four times higher than those of the people who had eaten protein.

Short-term memory boost needed: Coffee is the ultimate brain fuel. Caffeine has been shown to retard the aging process and enhance short-term memory performance. However, too much caffeine, especially from late afternoon onward can have a negative effect on the short-term memory as well. Too much caffeine can interrupt your normal sleep pattern. Sleep is reboot time for your mental computer, and you don't want to mess with it.

Here's one that I know.



Long-term memory boost: Eat blueberries. Blueberries contain antioxidants which protect the brain from free-radical damage and lower your risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. If you can find wild blueberries, they have even more antioxidants than the cultivated variety. Another tip within this tip is if your favorites are out of season, buy them frozen. Freezing them locks in flavors and nutrients, so the berries' antioxidant capacity is maxed out. It's better consuming the off-season berries.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Spreading the word......





This is for my beautiful niece....Love you Sweetie!!!

Friday March 26th is Epilepsy Awareness Day....Wearing purple on Friday demonstrates support for epilepsy sufferers, showing them that they are not alone.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Message heard around the world




Creative advertising is said to be the best way to get your message across about your product. However, one of the new commercials by GlaxoSmithkline has crossed a line.....or has it? The commercial is titled "Message in a Bottle" and the message is Cervical Cancer Kills. GlaxoSmithkline has a new vaccine to compete with Merck's Guardasil and GS is not taking the subtle approach. But is scaring the best method of educating us to the preventative measures to take for cervical cancer?

The reviews are mixed. Some are horrified and have gone so far as to post on Ihatecommercials.com that the marketing technique GS has used is one they do not like. When I first saw this commercial I was taken back. I was wondering what new perfume was on the market. What a surprise it was to me to see on the pretty bottle the words, "Cervical Cancer." Another commercial in GS's campaign to educate America was an instant message conversation between two friends concerning another girlfriend who wasn't able to partake in drinks with the girls. When the other girl questions "why not?" the response is that "she just found out she has cervical cancer." GS is getting down and dirty about this subject.

I agree that cervical cancer is nothing to take lightly. My family has been crushed by the loss of a very young mother of two to cervical cancer. So our fear was one of reality and enough to have the women of our family to have anual Papsmears, educate our friends, and to simply speak openly about it with our children. I also support parents vaccinating their daughters, as I myself have chose to do with my own.

So is the new commercial harsh and tasteless??? It has many women talking about it...therefore bringing awareness to the reality of cervical cancer.....so yes it's a strong message....but one that is being heard. Knowledge is power. Learn about cervical cancer prevention at helppreventcervicalcancer.com

Monday, March 15, 2010

Workout Prep?




On The Doctors today they discussed how having a cup of coffee could ease the muscle soreness brought on from working out. I decided to research it being that I suffer from a little muscle soreness after a workout. My workout includes a half an hour of cardio and an hour and a half of weight machines.

I researched this online and found mixed reviews. Studies have been done to show that some women have reported consuming about two cups of coffee prior to a workout eased muscle soreness during their workout. In one study, the pain relief from caffeine was stronger than from painkillers such as Tylenol or Aleve. Research has also shown that Ibuprofen has shown inconsistent results, and it hasn't been proven in delaying muscle soreness

However, before consuming coffee before a workout, it is recommended to consider the possible side effects of doing so. Caffeine can increase anxiety, heart palpitation, and blood pressure. Careful consideration should be used when choosing the caffeine route. Obviously, if you're hypersensitive to caffeine, you'd be at a higher risk for these side effects.

Bottom line is that it's not going to work for everyone, however, I'm going to give it a go to see if it helps me.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Peace




I want to thank PioPio (NYC's West Side location) for yet another amazing night out of great food and festivities. Since we chose to celebrate with an early dinner, we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. It also helped that the weather was horrid. We counted 4 destroyed umbrellas flying by the restaurant's windows. The waitstaff was amazed by the size of the cake but they added the candles, got together a group of five waiters, dimmed the restaurant lights, and came over in a group with the music blaring and even added horns to their customary birthday song.

Needless to say my daughter had a great birthday dinner and she loved her cake. Spending time with family is always fun, but coupled with something to celebrate makes it all the more enjoyable.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Proper Pairing Aids in Digestion




So we've all heard the claim that pairing the correct wine with your meal makes the meal that much better. Always searching for a new reason to indulge in a glass of wine with my meal, I was delighted to hear of the newest claim of how correct pairing can aid with digestion. This has been a great debate for sometime now with scientists. Some have found that alcoholic beverages speed the digestion, stimulate gastric acid, while others are steadfast that one has nothing to do with the other.

The unwritten rule with wine is to drink light-to-dark and pair with meals delicate-to-heavy. This is why red wines are better paired with heavier foods such as beef. Which follows the one studies research that concluded protein softened the wine's tannins and in return the red wine also helps counteract Malondehydes (MDA), potentially harmful substances, which are released when meat is digested.


White wines are best served with appetizers or lighter dishes such as fish and poultry. In another study, it was found that a serving of dark meat from turkey elevated those same MDA in a subjects blood. Further founded, coupling this meal with a glass of cabernet sauvignon, the increase of the substance was "completely prevented."

Moral of the story? Pairing the right wine with your meal is not just about flavor, it also aids in digestion.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Uh-Oh....Look who's a teenager.




So my daughter is going to be thirteen this coming week. I have learned that it's not like the terrible twos that starts just about at two years of age. The terrible teen attitude was developed around her tenth birthday. She's actually perfected it at this point. This new "tween" attitude started when she was ten years old. I don't recall being a tweenager...but I absolutely remember becoming a teenager.

Every birthday I think back to the day she was born and remember every detail. I usually run through this reminiscing for about a week or two before her birthday. I kept a journal from before she was born, until her third birthday or so and then from then on it was the milestones that I would document. I love that I can open up to any page and flashback to that exact moment and remember just about every detail.

With her upcoming celebration we asked her what she wanted to do. She wants dinner in NYC at Pio Pio and to be able to bring a friend. Hmmmm...I can do that. That works for me. But I wanted to do something a little special. So I invited friends and family that she hasn't seen in over a year or so which I'm sure will delight her. But I wanted to order her a custom cake. So off to the internet I went to google some ideas.

Who would have thought that it would be so difficult to find a cake? I spent less time finding the design for my wedding cake. The cakes ranged from simple to extreme. The cake is for fifteen people so I don't see why I need to order one for a hundred plus. Then it dawned on me....I have a friend that bakes cakes and she's pretty darned good. So I posted on her Facebook page and she responded right away. I told her what my daughter was into and we decided on a peace sign cake. Crazy as it is in 2010 I've got a kid that loves peace signs. I guess I should be grateful that it's not skulls that she's into.


So the cake is ordered and I cannot wait to see the expression on her face when she sees people she hasn't seen in so long come to celebrate her breaking into teen-hood and to eat her custom peace sign cake. I will be sure to post pictures of the cake.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Cherry Coke Zero....Fighting the Addiction

I kicked the soda habit over two years ago because I had turned over a new leaf. More so for my daughter, but still also for myself. My new drink of choice was water, or flavored waters. I really didn't miss the soda which was a surprise for me. Even when I was out to eat I'd ask for a glass of water with a slice of lime. I'd been fine all this time having cut soda out of my diet. Until a few weeks ago when the school store was out of flavored water. Now, I have a prefererred brand of bottled water. I prefer Aquafina. There are also brands that I don't like and Dasani is one of them. Unfortunately, the college store sells Coke products, so Dasani was all that was available. Which wasn't too bad when it was at least a flavored version. But this day there were no flavored Dasani's to be found. Feeling that it wouldn't be a big deal for one day, I picked up a Cherry Coke Zero.



And that my friends is where my short addiction to Cherry Coke Zero began. It was two weeks, but it was two weeks of CCZ bliss. I would look forward to class ending to get to the school store to buy my bottle of CCZ to quench, not my thirst, but my addiction. It got so bad that one day the school store hadn't received their soda shipment and there were no CCZ's for the taking and I had to settle for a Sprite Zero. It did not comfort the craving. I left school that day and went grocery shopping. I went directly to the soda aisle, an aisle I hadn't been in for a very long time, and anxiously looked for the black capped, black labeled bottle of CCZ. One bottle...are you kidding me? There's only one bottle left on the shelf? I was grateful that my fellow addicts left me at least one beautiful, 2 liter bottle.

I completed shopping and made it home and cooked dinner. All the while I was thinking about how good my tall glass of CCZ was going to taste with dinner. Needless to say no one was allowed to touch my bottle of CCZ. I did, however, hesitantly offer a sip to my husband. I imagine that my face told the true tale of not wanting to share, because he chuckled and declined my offer. Phew, that was close. I enjoyed that bottle, alone, as if it were a good year of chardonnay.

After only a week of my new addiction I was feeling the effects of it's ingredients. Now Coke Zero products are not to be mistaken with diet sodas. It's its own separate category of drink with its own list of ingredients. So how can a drink without sugar and calories taste so darned good and yet be oh so bad? The headaches, abdominal pain and lower back pain I was experiencing was no joke. As I evaluated what in my diet had changed recently there was only one culprit, Cherry Coke Zero.

I did some research on the internet and found other fellow addicts as well many conflicting opinions, professional and non, regarding the sweeteners in my beloved CCZ. Acesulfame Potassium is one of the newest sweeteners used in CCZ and the controversy surrounding it is that it hasn't been extensively tested. But the FDA did approve it for use in certain products. There's actually a list of products it can be used in. The other culprit...ummm...I mean sweetener is Aspartame which has been surrounded by so much controversy.

So much information to contemplate but the deciding factor for me was the way I felt. I know the only change to my diet prior to my symptoms was the CCZ and as much as I enjoyed it, I wasn't going to subject my body to it any longer. I'm back to water and it's been only a week, but I feel much better. I carry a bottle of water with me now to school so I don't have to go to the school store. Lesson learned.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Take two and don't call me in the morning





Since I've had my past med experience on my mind I wanted to post some more information on "where to go" when you're about to start a new med or thinking about a treatment plan. My research has lead me to two great sites: askapatient.com and medications.com have both been helpful to me in the past.

Medications.com is easy to navigate and even has quick reference tabs for side effects, videos, conditions and questions. This site also provides information in the news about various drugs and a message board that you can use to communicate with people who have taken the medications and they can tell you what experiences they've had. While it's understandable that every persons experience is different as well as their reason for taking the medication, it still is very helpful.

Askapatient.com is a site that I have found the most helpful. It has the same information as medications.com but it's patient created and has more "down and dirty" information on medication and health care opinion. It provides medication reports and FDA alerts as well as a prescription report cards. There are opinion polls which have links to even more related articles on medications.

The News tab is a great resource for todays health care and pharmaceutical news. The news section provides a blurb from the article and a link from the media in where the article can be found. Furthermore, you can find similar articles from that article. Included in the news tab are drug safety alerts where you can enter your medication for an easy check.

Being able to find as many resources for any and all information (good or bad) pertaining to medications you might currently be taking or may be thinking of taking, is helpful. These sites helped me and I felt it was important to pass on this information for anyone who might be considering taking a new drug that they're not familiar with. Also, if you're on a drug and you're experiencing side effects that your doctor insists is not due to the drug....you'll be surprised to see just how many other people might be suffering from the same issues. You're not alone and information is out there, if you know where to look.

Have a healthy day!