Cabot Skin Care ~ Cooperlabs Blog

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. These permanent dates enhance planning and position National Nurses Week as an established recognition event. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be celebrated annually. And as of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year.

The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. Each of ANA’s state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community.

The ANA supports and encourages National Nurses Week recognition programs through the state and district nurses associations, other specialty nursing organizations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions.

A Brief History of National Nurses Week

1953 Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a “Nurse Day” in October of the following year. The proclamation was never made.

1954 National Nurse Week was observed from October 11 – 16. The year of the observance marked the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s mission to Crimea. Representative Frances P. Bolton sponsored the bill for a nurse week. Apparently, a bill for a National Nurse Week was introduced in the 1955 Congress, but no action was taken. Congress discontinued its practice of joint resolutions for national weeks of various kinds.

1972 Again a resolution was presented by the House of Representatives for the President to proclaim “National Registered Nurse Day.” It did not occur.

1974 In January of that year, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) proclaimed that May 12 would be “International Nurse Day.” (May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale.) Since 1965, the ICN has celebrated “International Nurse Day.”

1974 In February of that year, a week was designated by the White House as National Nurse Week, and President Nixon issued a proclamation.

1978 New Jersey Governor Brendon Byrne declared May 6 as “Nurses Day.” Edward Scanlan, of Red Bank, N.J., took up the cause to perpetuate the recognition of nurses in his state. Mr. Scanlan had this date listed in Chase’s Calendar of Annual Events. He promoted the celebration on his own.

1981 ANA, along with various nursing organizations, rallied to support a resolution initiated by nurses in New Mexico, through their Congressman, Manuel Lujan, to have May 6, 1982, established as “National Recognition Day for Nurses.”

1982 In February, the ANA Board of Directors formally acknowledged May 6, 1982 as “National Nurses Day.” The action affirmed a joint resolution of the United States Congress designating May 6 as “National Recognition Day for Nurses.”

1982 President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation on March 25, proclaiming “National Recognition Day for Nurses” to be May 6, 1982.

1990 The ANA Board of Directors expanded the recognition of nurses to a week-long celebration, declaring May 6 – 12, 1991, as National Nurses Week.

1993 The ANA Board of Directors designated May 6 – 12 as permanent dates to observe National Nurses Week in 1994 and in all subsequent years.

1996 The ANA initiated “National RN Recognition Day” on May 6, 1996, to honor the nation’s indispensable registered nurses for their tireless commitment 365 days a year. The ANA encourages its state and territorial nurses associations and other organizations to acknowledge May 6, 1996 as “National RN Recognition Day.”

1997 The ANA Board of Directors, at the request of the National Student Nurses Association, designated May 8 as National Student Nurses Day.

From the American Nursing Association:

http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/MediaResources/NationalNursesWeek/NNWHistory.aspx

Diabetic foot ulcers are incredibly difficult to treat and unfortunately can lead to infection and possibly amputation of a toe, foot, or even leg.

Of course the best thing to do is prevent the ulcers in the first place.  But understanding why diabetic foot ulcers happen is also important.  Diabetes damages the nerves of the legs and the feet, as well as impairs circulation to the lower extremities.  This causes what is called diabetic neuropathy, which causes numbness to the feet and legs.  This can also occur in the hands.  This numbness is dangerous because a person can step on an object like a nail or glass and not know it, causing a wound that is left unattended.  This wound can then become larger and infected, leading to serious problems.  Even getting small splinters can create large wounds.

Wearing properly fitting shoes is extremely important.  Shoes that are too tight or rub can cause blisters, which lead to wounds.  A person with neuropathy may not realize their shoes are too tight, so it is wise to go to a shoe store that specializes in diabetic footwear to be properly fitted.  Diabetics should never go barefooted.

It is also necessary for diabetics to keep the skin on their feet moisturized and soft.  Dry skin cracks and leads to wounds that may not be felt by a diabetic.  Using an intense emollient moisturizer is very important to keep the skin soft and resistant to cracking.  POL Cream is superior for diabetic foot care.  Applying POL Cream twice a day will keep skin soft and help prevent cracking.  As with any moisturizer, apply to all surfaces of the feet, but not between the toes.

All people with diabetes should inspect their feet daily using a mirror to see the bottom and all areas of their feet.  Look for reddened areas, blisters, cracks, foreign objects, open areas, or anything abnormal.  Get immediate medical attention from a physician or podiatrist at even the slightest sign there may be a problem.

Protection and prevention is definitely the best approach to diabetic foot care.

Denise Skinner, RN, BSN, WCC
V.P. Clinical Services, Cooperlabs

Skin changes as we age; it wrinkles, losses elasticity and the outer skin layer, the epidermis, thins. This occurs even though the number of cell layers remains unchanged.  Thin Skin creates an increased risk for skin injury. Your skin is thinner, more fragile, and the protective subcutaneous fat layer is lost. In addition, your ability to sense touch, pressure, vibration, heat and cold may be reduced. Thus, your skin is at higher risk for injury.

Rubbing or pulling on the skin can cause skin tears. Fragile blood vessels are easily broken. Bruises, flat collections of blood (purpura), and raised collections of blood (hematomas) may form after even a minor injury. This is most easily seen on the forearms, but can occur anywhere. Loss of subcutaneous fat, a tendency to be less active, nutritional deficiencies and other illnesses can also contribute to pressure ulcers. Aging thin skin repairs itself more slowly than younger skin. Wound healing may be up to 4 times slower.  The blood vessels of the dermis become more fragile. This leads to bruising, bleeding under the skin (senile purpura) and similar conditions.

Sebaceous glands produce less oil as you age. Men experience a minimal decrease, usually after the age of 80. Women gradually produce less oil beginning after menopause. This can make it harder to keep the skin moist, resulting in dryness and itchiness.

The subcutaneous fat layer thins, reducing its normal insulation and padding. This increases your risk of skin injury and reduces your ability to maintain body temperature. Because you have less natural insulation, you can get hypothermia in cold weather.

PREVENTION

Because most skin changes are related to sun exposure, prevention is a lifelong process.

• Keep skin moist with creams and lotions. Do not use soaps that are heavily perfumed. Bath oils are not recommended because they can cause you to slip and fall. Moist skin is more comfortable and will heal more quickly.

• Good nutrition and adequate fluids are also helpful. Dehydration increases the risk of skin injury. Sometimes minor nutritional deficiencies can cause rashes, skin lesions and other skin changes, even if you have no other symptoms.

• Prevent sunburn by using a sunscreen and/or clothing to protect the skin.