At some point in time we were all infants. And yes we all were fed with bottles. But for some that bottle may have been more likely than not, mothers milk. Breastfeeding is something that many (not all) women can do, and with that said information before the arrival of a new baby is key to it being successful. There is much information on various websites on breastfeeding (laleche.org, aap.org) as well as many written materials. As nurses, we are in the perfect postion to educate and assist in breastfeeding. There…

I was speaking to my aunt recently and we discussed a recent study reported on in The New York Times. It stated that researchers from the University of Missouri found that people who walk dogs are more likely to exercise and show improvement in fitness, as opposed to those who walk with friends and/or companions. One reasoning was that people who would walk together are more likely to make excuses to not walk and skip a day or two, but you can’t necessarily do that with a dog.

Teri before her walk

My aunt…

Rain or shine I kick off the work week by visiting my members in the seaside community of Far Rockaway, New York. Even though I was raised in Queens I had never stepped foot in this neighborhood prior to joining VNS CHOICE. Growing up I knew Far Rockaway as the place on the subway map with stops along the beach.

Here’s a brief tally of some of the places I’ve visited prior to starting with VNS CHOICE

Location                                # of visits made                         Distance from home

Hong Kong                                      8                                              8046 miles

Beijing                                             5                                              6829…

I love spring, as it lends an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors more and maybe improve our environment too. This past year I have had the opportunity to lead a cub scout den.  My den of  ‘Bear scouts’ love field trips but the weather unfortunately this past fall and winter has not really let that happen much. We have, although, managed to do community service projects. On both occasions for such projects we did a garbage pick up in a public space. First it was an area park, even though it rained earlier that…

After the snowiest February on record and a weekend of rain that seemed to reach biblical proportions, this week of warmth and sunshine was not just welcome, it was transforming … it was the difference between a wind chill and a gentle breeze.

I noticed tiny green stalks (crocuses maybe?) peeking above the soil in Battery Park City. My husband was able to bike home from his office without needing to turn on his helmet lights. I was able to walk home before sunset, instead of working at my desk long after…

(Photo by Jenny Downing)

Night after night, I talk to many spouses or adult children of VNSNY patients who call for assistance and very often I hear such love and strength in their voices for their ill family member. And I’m humbled. In the thirteen years that I’ve been a nurse I have experienced the hard work that goes into mental and physical care for patients, but at the end of an eight hour shift I always returned to my own home. The caregivers I’m speaking to on the phone don’t get…

For many of our elderly patients, their grown children often become the primary caretaker.  But what happens if you live far from your parents, or competing demands in your own life make it difficult for you to help as much as you would like?

I recently encountered a patient and her son that had to navigate through such issues.  Although it is becoming a common situation that many face, we are still not always sure of what the best course of action should be.  What I found with my patient and…

Do you know this number??? Put it in the phone now. Why you ask? Well, if you don’t know it you should, it is the Poison Control Number available to everyone and is staffed by Pharmacists and RNs trained in toxicology. No matter what your age, you never know when that accident will occur and fumbling to get information is seconds away when you dial this free number. I will never forget the first pediatric patient I cared for that accidentally ingested Draino. Yes, Draino! She was three and under the sink,…

Instead of focusing on wellness and maximizing functioning, seniors sometimes focus on illness and loss of functioning. One of our Center’s main goals is to focus on what is feeling well, and using that to help people function as highly as possible. We strive to help seniors and their caregivers feel positive about their level of functioning, skills and talents.

In our program for people with memory impairment, it is very important to help them strengthen their skills and “exercise” their memory as much as possible. Over the years, we’ve observed that the…

What comes to your mind when yout think of the typical college basketball player? As college hoops tournaments are starting to fill the airwaves, I wanted to share an inspiring video clip I had come across a few years ago featuring an atypical student athlete.

In a 2008 New York Times article featuring 73 year old Ken Mink, Jere Longman writes:

If the 6-foot Mink was good enough to play, he was good enough to be guarded, Woods told the Lambuth players. Then he turned to the freshman Kendrick Coleman and said: “If…