Nurses are necessary
Have you ever thought about what kind of job you’d like to do when you grow up? During the COVID-19 pandemic, people who work in hospitals have been getting a lot of attention because of how much they’ve helped patients who have gotten the virus. Today, we’re going to learn more about nurses, who are specially trained to make people feel better in every way.
What nurses do
If you have a relative who is a nurse, you might know that people in this profession are known for being calm in a crisis. Even if you’re really hurting, a nurse can help keep you calm while trying to figure out what’s wrong. Nurses help check things like heartbeat and blood pressure as well as give patients the medicine they need. Nurses also talk with doctors about how patients are doing. Nurses have different training and jobs than doctors, but they are experts at working with people and helping them feel better.
Types of nurses
There are many different jobs in nursing. You might have visited your school nurse before. And if you’ve been to the pediatrician lately, you probably got weighed and measured by a nurse. There are special nurses who work with women having babies, and nurses who work only with babies! Some nurses work with elderly people, and others work with people who have certain illnesses or conditions. There are also nurses who work in the emergency room of the hospital. Every kind of nurse has special training in their area so they can be the most help to the people they see.
Activity: Make your own first aid kit
Have you ever scraped your knee or cut your finger and not been able to find bandages? With a first aid kit (or a few — one for your home and one for each vehicle the family uses), you’ll have everything you need close at hand. You’ll need a sturdy container stocked with the following items:
• An up-to-date first-aid manual
• A list of emergency phone numbers
• Sterile gauze pads of di erent sizes
• Adhesive tape
• Adhesive bandages (Band-Aids) in several sizes
• Elastic bandage
• A splint
• Antiseptic wipes
• Soap
• Antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
• Hydrocortisone cream (1%)
• Acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• Extra prescription medicines (if the family is going on vacation)
• Tweezers
• Sharp scissors
• Safety pins
• Disposable instant cold packs
• Calamine lotion
• Alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
• Thermometer
• Plastic non-latex gloves (at least 2 pairs)
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• A blanket
• Mouthpiece for giving CPR (you can get one from your local Red Cross)