Multi-drug Resistant TB Threat

ATLANTA - A man with a rare and dangerous form of tuberculosis ignored doctors' advice and took two trans-Atlantic flights, leading to the first U.S. government-ordered quarantine since 1963. The man, whom officials did not identify, is at Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital in respiratory isolation.

He was potentially infectious at the time of the flights, so officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended medical exams for cabin crew members on those flights, as well as passengers sitting in the same rows or within two rows.

What do you think should happen to people who endanger the lives of innocent people? Should he be prosecuted? I read recently that another resistant TB patient was quarantined who refused to take his medication. Should the needs of the many overrule the needs of one patient's freedoms?

What say you?

Update from Nurse Practitioner Grad

Hello to all.. I finally got my seating pass and will take the boards in a few weeks. I also popped back over to Fat Doctor and found that she's not password protecting anymore but has a new domain. Pop over and say hello!

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

I popped over to Pixelrn's blog and read an interesting post about the sadness with which we feel when yet again another great medical blogger opts out or changes to a password only blog in order to satisfy good old HIPPA. It's a crock of shit. Do they really think that a curtain between beds keeps anything secret? One can't even have privacy in the hospital to take a crap, let alone keep confidential health information to one's self. Anyone can read themselves into anything one writes. I can find my cousin, sister, aunt, uncle, grandpa in any blog about health care that I read. Everyone will be a part of the system one time or other. Of course, I would never reveal test results such as AIDS etc. in a post about a patient. Who in their right mind would say that Mary Smith of Poukepsie (fictitious of course!) has such and such disease process without their permission? We all change information about anyone that we write about to protect their privacy, but if we stop writing about our patients trials and tribulations and the way that we help them deal with it, who will give the hope that they need? We need to let our future nurses know what it's REALLY like on the front lines of health care. I say blog on! I'm not passwork protecting my blog and I hope that those who are considering it don't. I hope that Fat Doctor finds a way to let me know her new password because I enjoyed reading her blog. If not, I hope she continues to do her great work but I won't know about it.

Nurse Practitioner Update

Hello to all.. I am still waiting for my seating pass. I did finally get an acknowledgment letter from them saying that they received my application. I hate being in limbo! I've been trying to get in some studying time but also trying to catch up on some cleaning duties that have been neglected.
I also had a chance to go to my new to be employer's open house. It had a pretty good turnout. Lots of people from my hospital came and I loved the looks of wonder of why I was there? One person actually asked me and I said that I would be working there soon. The look on her face was priceless. I can't wait to start!

Fires Raging in North Florida

Hello to all. I just wanted to pop a note up about how bad the smoke is in the area with the wildfires raging in North Florida. As of the last week, it looks like a whiteout and the ash is falling almost continuously. I have told everyone I can to stay inside their homes, especially those with respiratory problems. The schools closed early Friday and we had to pick up the little one from his elementary school. I have found most of our important papers and have made a mental note of things I want to throw into the vehicles in case of an evacuation notice.
I feel really bad about the animals as well. They don't understand what's happening and must be scared out of their minds.
On a greater note, I finally got my transcripts and they have been sent overnight to the ANCC credentialing agency and am awaiting my seating pass. Off I go to study some more!
Hope things are nicer wherever you all are!

Awaiting A Seating Pass

Hello to all! I have a very nice graduation ceremony at the college and several family members were able to attend from down South. Some of the nurses from work through me a little party with a cake during my last shift. It's nice to know that I will be missed when I leave. (If I ever get my paperwork and boards completed!). Once things finally settle down, I will be posting more interesting things to read, I promise!