First Do No Harm

"I’m okay if it hurts and I’m okay if I feel uncomfortable because I would rather have truth than to block what I’m feeling. It’s part of being human, it’s part of being a nurse and it’s part of being a father." - Nurse Papa

There are many fears in the United States of America circulating around the new president, Joe Biden. One of the fears include socialized medicine/Universal Healthcare. In the United States we don’t fully grasp what it includes and there are countless myths and misconceptions when discussing such issues. First Do No Harm dives into the issue by having the hosts of Gritty Nurse Podcast (one of my favorites) on to discuss what Universal Health Care means in their country (Canada). I hope you enjoy listening to these two nurses as they educate me on what the realism of such construct really means.

On this episode SAM, a registered nurse joins me to discuss COVID19 vaccines as well as her journey of contracting the coronavirus in March. The two vaccines we focus the most on are Moderna and Pfizer. We discuss the update of the two per their latest study results. We discuss our views and feelings about the vaccines as healthcare workers. Will we agree to take the vaccine when it becomes available? Tune in to find out and our reasons behind our choices.

"There is no way to genuinely, powerfully, truly love yourself while crafting a mask of perfection."

"You really don't know anything about life until you've experienced it." 

Dr. Naheed Dosani is a palliative care physician who cares for homeless that focuses on dignity and compassion, whether in a shelter or on the street. He joins today's episode to discuss the patient that was a catalyst in determining the direction of medicine he would take, health as a social factor, the fact that Covid19 is not the great equalizer as we have been told, and the importance of caring for others for who they are, where they are. 

National Healthcare Decisions Day exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. What better time to discuss this topic than in the middle of a pandemic. I hope you listen in as I speak with my guest who worked not only at the bedside as an ICU and Emergency Room Nurse, but also in the legal field. 

This week First Do No Harm had a phenomenal guest to talk about Palliative Care. This episode is a bit more about the hospital side, but information we should all be aware of. Adrianne Behning, the host of Nursing Uncensored Podcast joins the podcast as a specialist who has spent years of her career dealing with palliative care. She digs into what palliative care means for the patient as well as the family as well the beautiful ways of caring for those who choose the palliative care route.

On this episode we discuss the No-ID voter and the fact that some voters have no form of ID exclusions can apply if they have previously voted. Some states allow utility bills with current address. Federal law requires all first-time voters who do not supply information that can be verified against other state or federal databases at the time they register to show some form of ID when they vote.

The Procrastinating voter and the fact that very few states allow late or in-person same-day voter registration. The fact is most deadlines range from two weeks to 30 days before Election day and voters who fail to register by the specified date cannot cast a ballot.

The Eager Student Voter may face complications since there is a smaller proportion of students that have a driver’s license than in the 1980’s. There are a few ways for students to vote even if they don’t have a license, so parent’s LISTEN UP and help your kid exercise their right to vote.

The Working Parent Voter has difficulties in voting because they are likely not to be able to take a day off work to go vote. Plus it can go against some of our attendance records. Some states allow absentee ballots and early voting. Some do not. Learn about what some states allow and check the link below if your state participates in paid time off to cast your vote.

Lastly I discuss Felony Voters. This is the one I was completely in the dark about until about a week ago. Times are changing and those who have previously had felony charges are likely to be able to vote. While the ability between states vary (some require if convicted of a previous felony charge, one must be off probation and nothing outstanding.) Regardless, check the link below for tools to help get registered to vote if you have a previous felony conviction.

2020 Presidential election calender:

The 7th episode of the mini series covering Old Wive's Tales to discover which are fact which are fiction. This episode will be covering 10 tales about sleep. Can you guess which have been proven to be factual? Listen and find out!

1. Drinking a glass of warm milk will help you sleep. 

2. Never wake a sleep walker because it can cause a heart attack, shock or brain damage. 

3. If you can’t sleep you should count sheep to fall asleep. 

4. During sleep your brain rests 

5. You need 8 hours of sleep per night 

6. The Scent of lavender helps you sleep. 

7. Getting enough beauty sleep can help you look better.

8. A warm bath before bed will help you fall asleep.

9. Eating cheese late at night will give you crazy dreams. 

10. A cup of herbal tea will help you fall asleep faster

The 6th episode of the mini series covering Old Wive's Tales to discover which are fact which are fiction. This episode will be covering 8 tales about animals. Can you guess which have been proven to be factual? Listen and find out!

An elephant never forgets

Camels store water in their humps

Crocodiles are crybabies

Ostriches bury their head in the sand when they are scared or threatened

Frogs croak loudly when rain is coming

Chocolate is toxic for dogs

Mother birds will reject their babies if they’ve been touched by humans

If you have a wound let your dog lick it to help it heal

How did you do?

The 5th of the mini series covering Old Wive's Tales to discover which are fact which are fiction. This episode will be covering 8 tales about food and drink. Can you guess which have been proven to be factual? Listen and find out!

Eating a tomato helps prevent sunburn

Oats help soothe bug bites

Eating turkey makes you sleepy

Alcohol helps you sleep

Spicy foods will cause you to have an ulcer

A spoonful of honey is good for coughs

Chocolate causes acne

Drinking water helps you lose weight

How did you do?

The 3rd of the mini series covering Old Wive's Tales to discover which are fact which are fiction. This episode will be covering 6 tales about health. Can you guess which have been proven to be factual? Listen and find out!

Knuckle cracking causes arthritis

Chicken soup can cure a cold.

Your mouth is dirtier than a toilet seat.

If you eat too many carrots you’ll turn orange.

Sneezing too hard can cause a stroke.

Reading in dim light will damage your eyes. 

How did you do?

  The 2nd of the mini series covering Old Wive's Tales to discover which are fact which are fiction. This episode will be covering 6 tales about weather. Half are true, Half are false. Can you guess which have been proven to be factual? Listen and find out!

It’s so hot you can fry an egg on the sidewalk.

A fuzzy Caterpillar can shed light on winter weather.

A red sky at night, sailor’s delight. A red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning

You’ll catch a cold if you go outside with wet hair

You can find out the temperature, by listening to how many times a cricket chirps

The sharper the blast, the sooner ‘tis past.

How did you do?

The first of the mini series covering Old Wive's Tales to discover which are fact which are fiction. This episode will be covering 4 tales about pregnancy. Two are true, two are false. Can you guess which have been proven to be factual? Listen and find out!

Heartburn while you carry means your body will be hairy. Fact or Fiction?

You can't get pregnant while you're breastfeading. Fact or Fiction?

Eat your veggies now and your babies will love them later. Fact or Fiction?

If you're carrying low you're having a boy. If you're carrying high you're having a girl. Fact or Fiction?

How did you do?

 Hey Honey, sweetie, baby! 

On this week’s episode it is just you and me. I reflect back on a lesson that is taught to all those who prepare to care for those in the healthcare setting. It is the way in which we talk to and address others. I reflect back on several people who triggered me in simple conversation and what YOU and I both can do to ensure we don't make others feel such a way.

"My pain isn't who I am, but it controls what I can do, and in this world what you can do is a huge measure of who you are." -unknown

In this week’s episode we chat about night shift versus day shift and which is the coveted position in the world of healthcare. We also discuss chronic pain. In the midst of an opioid epidemic it is becoming increasingly difficult to get pain medication in seek of relief. At times the medications barely feel like a bandaid. As a sufferer of chronic pain I began looking for a way to decrease my pain in hopes to have the ability to run again- an action I was told would remain in my past. I’ve have successfully been able to run and go from taking almost 4grams of Tylenol a day for pain to rarely taking it! We discuss the pathophysiology of how pain works and the circuit pathway in relation to the brain. We go through proven research on ways to train your brain to communicate differently to rewire your brain into tolerating what those with chronic pain suffer from. Listen to the podcast with an open mind, try it out and share with us the changes you experience to help encourage others. 

“To have control of my own mind.. to go with dignity is less terrifying. When I look at both options I have to die, I feel this is far more humane.” –Brittany Maynard

Maine just became the 8th state plus Washington DC to legalize physician assisted suicide, also known as physician assisted death. It has been a topic of controversy since 1990’s. Tina from the podcast Good Nurse Bad Nurse joins the show this week to discuss how she views life and what it means to die with dignity. She also shares an experience that happened at a hospital she once worked at that included a husband who simply could not handle the suffering he witnessed his wife going through daily and an unfortunate turn of events. 

Links associated with today’s podcast:

Every single act of kindness, no matter how small has a ripple effect. 

I quizzed social media asking what one thing can (scientifically) INCREASE love, energy, happiness, pleasure and your life span. The same one thing can act as an antidepressant. It can DECREASE stress, pain, anxiety, depression and high blood pressure.

Some of our favorite guesses included pets, vacation with someone you love, being outdoors, and a couple more. 

Listen to Christen and I discuss Kindness and the ways in which we find ourselves struggling as well. 

We learned  "A group of highly anxious individuals performed at least six acts of kindness a week. After one month, there was a significant increase in positive moods, relationship satisfaction and a decrease in social avoidance in socially anxious individuals. University of British Columbia Study" We all could use improvement in our moods and satisfaction, right? We decided that the month of July we are going to take part in a challenge to perform 6 acts of kindness a week and we want you to join! More details in the podcast.  

New to season 2 of First Do No Harm is the ability to leave voicemails! It is included in the show notes of anchor. Leave us a message- ideas, fun thoughts, and reactions to the episode. 

We also want to give a big Thank You to our Patrons, Amy Carlson and Fuzail Haq for supporting us.