Practical Pointers: Discover Shortcuts Devised by Colleagues (May 2006)
Dust Off Those Stirrups
Disposable dusting mitts, which are available in most supermarkets, make excellent stirrup covers. They stay in place and can be discarded when dirtied.
—Karen Brennan, RN
Mary Thorkildson, MSN
Gainesville, Fla
Monthly Breast Exam Reminder
Women often forget to perform a monthly breast self-examination. If your patient takes oral contraceptives, tell her to examine her breasts the day she starts a new pack of pills. This also ensures that the exam will be done during the first 2 weeks of the menstrual cycle, which is the optimal time for a breast examination.
—Nancy H. Fraser, ARNP
Orange Park, Fla
Pelvic Exams: Cut Out Obstructed Views
During pelvic examinations, tissue from the vaginal walls often obstructs the view of the cervix by entering laterally from either side of the open speculum. One way to prevent this is to cut a finger off of a rubber glove and then snip off the finger's end as well, forming a tube. Place this tube over the speculum blades before introducing the instrument into the vagina. When the speculum is opened, the glove material holds back the vaginal wall tissue so that the view is unobstructed.
—Jeanette M. Williams, MD
Minneapolis
Approach Morning Sickness Gingerly
Ginger has been used since ancient times to treat many ailments. A recent study showed that taking 250 mg of powdered gingerroot before each meal and before bed (1 g/d total) can help relieve nausea and vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy. Chewing on a piece of gingerroot can also help alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness.
—Gopi Rana-Mukkavilli, MD
New York