There will soon be a directory for the boards of nursing in the United States. After that, we’ll make a directory of Canadian Boards of Nursing and then Australian Boards of Nursing. England will probably follow that.

The nursing world and the internet has been giving another networking site.  We introduce Nursing Ninjas.com!  This site is powered by wordpress, buddypress, and simplepress to bring nurses, student nurses, nurse assistants, patient assistants and home caregivers a way to connect with other professionals.  It is also a helpful resource for patients and their families for [...]

For some strange reason I had been compelled to make a nursing school directory of every school in the United States and it’s territories.  I am going alphabetically and I am glad to say that I have finished California.  California is a big state – could be a country of it’s own – and there [...]

What is hypothyroidism?  Hypothyroidism is a state at which thyroid cells do not produce sufficient amount of thyroid hormone.  This can be from many causes.  The result is a decrease in metabolism and a buildup of metabolites as a result.  These metabolites are called glycosaminoglycans which are compounds of sugars and proteins.  The problem with the [...]

What is hyperthyroidism? It is the excessive secretion of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland that leads to symptoms associated with thyrotoxicosis.  This can be a permanent or temporary problem.  Symptoms include a wide range of clinical manifestations that the educated nurse will be able to recognize to plan care effectively.  Manifestations will be of an [...]

What happens when the adrenal gland is over-functioning? Sometimes the adrenal gland over-secretes all of the adrenal hormones, a few, or just one.  Any excessive hormone secretion from the adrenal gland will cause trouble.  There can be an excessive secretion of androgen, mineralocorticoid (hyperaldosteronism), or cortisol (hypercortisolism – Cushing’s Disease or Cushing’s syndrome).  Read on to [...]

What is Addison’s Disease?  It is a hormonal deficiency disease of the adrenal gland caused by hypofunction of the renal gland.  There is a chronic state of this disease and then there is the sudden onset of acute adrenocortical insufficiency manifestations referred to as adrenal crisis, or Addisonian crisis, that is life threatening and may [...]

Below the break we give you a few changes in the endocrine system related to aging and how it will present in the older adult, as well things to think about when proving nursing care.  Learn on nursing ninjas, learn on! Endocrine Changes Clinical Manifestations Nursing Implications and Action Decrease in Metabolism Less cold tolerance Blood Pressure and heart rate [...]

A quick look at functions of the thyroid gland.  Look, study, and learn! Thyroid Hormone Functions:

Insulin antagonists Affect respiratory drive and rate Regulate the metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrates Fetal development Metabolic rate control of all cells in the body Promotion of sufficient secretion of gonadotropins and  growth hormone from the pituitary Inotropic and chronotropic cardiac effects RBC production increase Increase the formation [...]