Journal 10- Health Alert

HEALTH ALERT

• ·      It has recently been reported to the center that your child may have been exposed to Gastrointeritis aka Stomach Bug or Norovirus.

What is it:

• ·      Gastroenteritis involves the small and large intestine which results in some combination of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain and cramping. 

How it is spread:

• ·      The viruses are found in the vomit and stool of infected people. You can get it by:

o   Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus (someone gets stool or vomit on their hands, then touches food or drink).

o   Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then putting your hand or fingers in your mouth.

o   Having direct contact with a person who is infected with norovirus (for example, when caring for someone with norovirus or sharing foods or eating utensils with them).

o   People with norovirus illness are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick until at least 3 days after they recover. But, some people may be contagious for even longer.

What to look for:

• ·      Watery, usually nonbloody diarrhea — bloody diarrhea usually means you have a different, more severe infection
• Abdominal cramps and pain
• Nausea, vomiting or both
• Occasional muscle aches or headache
• Low Grade Fever

Prevention:

• ·      Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.  Especially after using the restroom, changing diapers, before meals and before preparing meals.  If soap is not available use hand sanitizer.
• ·      Clean and disinfect contaminated surface using a bleach-based household cleaner (5 tablespoons to 1.5 cups of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.)
• ·      Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with vomit or stool. Handle soiled items carefully—without agitating them—to avoid spreading virus. If available, wear rubber or disposable gloves while handling soiled clothing or linens and wash your hands after handling. The items should be washed with detergent at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dried.

If you suspect your child has been infected:

• ·      Follow all prevention steps.  
• ·      Keep child away from other children.
• ·      Contact center to report illness.
• ·      Your child cannot come back to the center for at least 24 hours after last vomit or watery stool.

What we are doing to prevent the spread:

• ·      All surfaces have been cleaned with bleach solutions.
• ·      All fabric toys and items have been washed.
• ·      All nap cots have been disinfected. 
• ·      Bathrooms have been thoroughly disinfected after each child.
• ·      Changing table thoroughly disinfected after each child.
• ·      Hands are being washed more frequently as well as use of hand sanitizer if age appropriate, especially after using restroom and before meals.

Journal 9- Inclusion Policy

inclusion of children with special needs

As a NICU RN and having a passion for children with special medical needs, we accept children with various medical complications.  We have a RN on site at all times with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit experience, as well as CPR for all of our staff.  The following list is just a few of the medical conditions we accept.  If you do not see your child’s diagnosis please contact the office to speak with me.

—Trachs

—Ventilators

—Monitors

—Feeding tubes

—Casts

—Straight Caths

—Breathing treatments

—Diabetes 

-Visual/Hearing Impairments

—Failure to thrive

—Prematurity

—Trisomy 21                                                                                                                             
 (Down Syndrome)

We ask that all parents of children with medical needs fill out the following form in case of an emergency.  We obtained this form from the American Academy of Pediatrics to make emergency situations flow more smoothly when parents and Primary Physician are not available.  “When these patients present to emergency departments or health care professionals with an acute illness or injury, physicians, parents, EMS professionals, and nurses will be able to use the EIF as a tool to transfer critical information.” American Academy of Pediatrics

We also have a partnership with SoonerStart to come out and work with your children weekly to help them reach various milestones.  We also ask that parents of children with special medical needs spend a week at our facility with our staff to allow us the opportunity for you to teach us about your child and their medical needs.

Journal 7

What Not To Wear Rules:

Clothes should show your confidence and your career.

Play up your hour glass shape.

Your clothes are age appropriate.  Don't wear kid shoes.

Detail at the narrow part of the waist.

Use pieces with visual interest with more simple pieces.

Make clothes change to fit your needs.

Trousers are very important for a woman's wordrobe.

Find clothes that are flattering to boost your confidence.


Dressing for success in my current position is scrubs.  I think making sure they fit well is key.
For my future position as a director of a medical child care center it would be dressing for my career which would be kind of a business-business casual.  I am a short person so I always have to change clothes to fit my needs.  I have lots of trousers in my closet now that I love.  When I am in those clothes I feel confident like I can accomplish anything.  So I agree that playing your clothes up to boost your confidence is a big key.

I often see child care workers that look like they just woke up out of bed and came to work.  It is not professional in the least little bit.  I will require my employees to dress professionally.  Since my center will be a center that cares for children with medical needs scrubs will be ok, but they must fit appropriately, not too baggy not too loose.  They must also be length appropriate.  I cannot stand when scrub pants are too long and dragging the ground and all ripped up it looks very tacky and unprofessional.