Dementia vs Delirium

We have been studying about Dementia and Delirium.The difference of acuteness or chronic. So it was interesting to read AJN’s article from Off the Charts called No Country for Old Women.

In this article the author shares a personal experience with her mother who has dementia, but turns into a suspected bi-polar personality. The author who sees this isn’t her mother’s norm, rightly questions the extremely hard situation and treatment from various doctors. This critical eye of knowing how there must be something else going on, proves to be the case.

To me, it restated the idea that people – all people, can have situations which are different than their chronic diagnosis. Various disease processes can cover up new, acute situations. Even with personalities.

As nurses, we need to always think about what is the main focus. In this particular situation it was the delirium. Delirium can be the symptom to many things – and not just the “Shes getting older” ideation.

Good timely article.

Balance of the Nurses’ Energy

I made this scale to show the balancing of the nurses’ energy. We have been taught to keep our bodies healthy, our minds nurtured and our spirit awake, but have you really thought how deep this goes? Breaking some of these areas up into mental, intuitional and emotional health lets you see where you may be missing a little tender loving care, and probably more importantly – letting go. So I ask you, is your energy balanced?

The article by D. Sherman on nurses’ stress talked about self-care nurses must do to keep from burning out. It relates the balancing of four fields: the Vital field – physical body, the Emotional field – feelings, the Mental field- thinking, visual images, ideas, and the Intuitional field – creativity, compassion, healing.

When these energies are imbalanced, stress and illness will occur.

 

laura’s thoughts generated by the article in Module 9 – Witt Sherman, Deborah.  “Nurses’ Stress & Burnout,”  AJN, May 2004, Pages 48-57