Welcome
Hi: My name is Lyn. I am a Registered Nurse
(RN, CMH) by vocation and a computer enthusiast by avocation. My original concept for
this website was to convey computer knowledge and experience I have acquired
since 1979 when first introduced to the Texas Instruments Personal Computer.
Back then, we had DOS, no Windows, monochrome (black and yellow screen). No
icons, java script, no “bells and whistles”. Our computers didn’t even have a
Hard Drive.
During two years of semi-retirement as an RN, I worked extensively in computing, building, maintaining, and teaching computers. I learned a great deal about them and really wanted to share that knowledge. I was President for 2 years of the Century Village Computer Club in Florida where I spent the last 12 years (perpetual summers). I expanded my knowledge about computers generally and did a lot of teaching, and really wanted to share that knowledge. My webmaster and best friend had other ideas for me, however! He suggested that my nursing skills and ideas were far more valuable and that I should consider sharing some of those experiences on the web.
By the way, for those of you who were familiar with my previous computer oriented site, there is no further mention of my computing interests but I hope at some point in the future to continue to educate my readers at least on some aspects of keeping their computers properly maintained, and like our bodies - healthy.
So here I am – presenting what I hope will be of use in aiding patients, their families and friends, as well as nursing professionals, to navigate our American Health Care System more effectively.
My experience goes back to 1969 when I worked for a Home Health Agency in Clinton, CT for 15 years. Colleagues encouraged me to go for my RN and so in 1979 I did so. I was a HHA working with the Hospice House in Branford when Hospice was founded in this country. I continued to work summers for the agency and with private clients during my summers. When I graduated with my RN I went back to the same agency and supervised the Home Heath Aides I used to work with side-by-side. I was among the very first nurses in this state to work “after hours” aka “extended hours” for agencies throughout the Valley Shore Region. Our job was to cover patients when the agency office closed. It was a very innovative idea back then in the late 70’s when DRGs first were introduced to medicine. (diagnostic related groups) (DRGs were what changed the country’s medical system from one in which the MD had the final say (in patient care), to the other end of the continuum allowing insurance companies to have the final say in patient care!)
Later, after I graduated I worked in a State Psychiatric Hospital on a male admission ward (ages 18 – 61) as Assistant Head Nurse on the evening shift. I developed wonderful rapport with my patients and staff and have only fond memories of that first job. Eventually I left and worked in the Department of Children and Families in the medical department of a residential school and maximum security unit for adjudicated youth. I worked there until my move to Florida whereupon I went back to Hospice and worked in critical care units, in the field making emergent home visits, and in the telephone triage unit dispatching nurses, chaplains, social workers, DME (durable medical equipment like Oxygen, wheelchairs, and whatever else a patient needed) etc.. In the CCUs I worked with an unusually large variety of medical problems in patients who were dying, which greatly broadened my expertise as a Visiting Nurse. I worked in psychiatric hospitals for adolescents, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, Home Care Agencies, and several hospitals in the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale area, broadening my skills more with each new or concurrent per diem job.
From
2003 until 2005, I worked for a Home Health Agency that was like a big family.
Currently I am the Parish Nurse, in partnership with Mary Ellen Taylor, for the
Westbrook Congregational Church. Our duties are broad and include home
assessments, general health education, blood pressure clinics, pre and post
surgical assessments. We sometimes give respite care for long term primary care
givers. We offer adolescent and well-baby help, transportation to and from
medical appointments, support at medical testing if needed. We have been known
to help patients manage their medications, assume responsibility for their own
care, and so forth -- our jobs encompass much the same duties as the visiting
nurse however we don't do any hands on care at this time.
While
I hope this site will educate you, please note that it is partly informational
on it’s own and partially intended to be a portal where you can link to other
informative medical sites. I have tried to present only very reliable sources
but I cannot be responsible for advice given or interpretations made as you surf
my site and the sites I link you to. I very much want to help people to connect
to their medical professionals in a more meaningful way. I have been a patient
myself off and on for many years so my advice is an accumulation of not only
medical knowledge but observing from your point of view. I do hope this site
will help you to see you have power, you have choices, you have resources to
find information that will equip you to ask intelligent questions and get better
care.
So,
take a tour of the site - I encourage you to write to me or my webmaster to ask
questions about anything you find here, would like to find here, or
anything you think is inaccurate.
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