Active Medical Diagnosis & Procedures Posts

How To: Perform a cardiovascular exam on a patient

The key to being a good doctor is great patient care and thoroughness, and those are exactly the skills you will learn in this video lesson, as you learn to perform a cardiovascular examination on your patient. This is a great, step-by-step resource for the proper examination procedure. Every medical student should know these techniques, and nursing students could benefit from this knowledge, too. Every cardiovascular exam should include inspection of the pulse, blood pressure, carotid pulsat...

News: Don't Be Afraid of Colonoscopy for Colon Cancer Screening- Laugh Your Fears Away!

Time for your colonoscopy? Got a friend turning fifty? Take a "wild ride on a flying scope" with this digestive ditty sure to make your toes and bowels move! The divine Ms. Butt Meddler, known for her cheeky and probing insight, will bring you laughter and the intestinal fortitude you need for your own personal periscopic procedure with this charming bowel ballad.

News: Colon Cancer Screening Starts Early if You're African American

Did YOU know...that African Americans have the highest rate of colorectal cancer, and that it is more likely to be advanced at diagnosis? The age for colonoscopy in ACG guidelines dropped to 45 for African Americans in 2009. This digestive ditty about colon cancer screening in Black Americans pays homage to Beyonce's iconic Single Ladies video. Help us to get the word out--Email this link to your African American colleagues and friends and post it to your Facebook or Twitter pals! We can prev...

How To: Access a port-a-cath in nursing

Studying to be a nurse? Then here is a nursing how-to video that teaches you how to access por-a-caths on a patient. Every nurse should know the basics of this technique, follow along and see how easy it is to identify and access port-a-caths on your patient so that they can receive their medication properly. These medical tips are sure to help you pass your nursing exam with flying colors.

How To: Set up an intravenous line

This video tutorial shows how to set up an intravenous line, or intravenous drip. Most are familiar with IVs, as a way of providing people undergoing medical treatment that are otherwise unable to ingest food with vital nutrients. Watch this educational medical science video and learn how to set up and insert an intravenous line.

News: Human Dissection Illustrated in Anatomical Pop-Up Books

Before there was Gray's Anatomy, physicians and medical students used anatomical flap books to explore the inner workings of the human body—a scientific illustrated guide that takes its name from the moveable paper flaps that can be "dissected" to reveal hidden anatomy underneath. Similar to pop-up books, these instructional tools mimic the act of human dissection, allowing doctors and students to study the intricacies of the body normally concealed by flesh.

How To: Examine a patient for vital signs

Any medical student could benefit from this video lesson, whether you're training to be a doctor or a nurse. The very first step to finding out what's wrong with your patient is examining him/her for their vital signs. You must check the patient's pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and know how to use every kind of sphygmomanometer. To see the entire examination procedure, perfect for nursing students, watch the video to see how to examine a patient for vital signs, and refer to the steps b...

How To: Perform a nasogastric tube insertion

This medical how-to video demonstrates the simple steps for inserting a nasogastric tube. A nasogastric tube is more commonly known as a NG. Follow along and learn the basic protocol for doing this procedure. To do a NG tube insertion you will need 14-16 French gauge nasogastric tubing, water soluble lubricating jelly, catheter tip syringe, suction drainage system, and hypoalergenic tape. For your patient, you should have ready a cup of water with a straw, emesis basin, and a towel.

How To: Do a daily check of the code blue cart in nursing

Going to be a nurse? Then one important part of your nursing responsibilities involves doing a daily check of the code blue cart or crash cart. The crash cart is checked every shift for emergency items and function. In this how-to video we review the nurse’s responsibility to test the defibrillator oxygen tank, most hospitals change tanks at 500 or 1000 psi. Follow along an see how simple it is to do a daily check of the code blue cart.

How To: Give an intradermal injection in nursing

Studying to be a nurse? Then follow along with this nursing how-to video to learn how to administer an intradermal injection. This injection technique is very common in nursing. Watch and observe the nursing student as she shows you the proper protocol for an intradermal injection. Before starting always make sure to check the doctor's orders and have all your equipment handy.

News: 1.3 Million Dollar Surgical Robot Folds Paper Airplanes, Gives Manicures

Here's a two-in-one "tutorial" for you today; how to fold a paper airplane, and how to execute a belated St. Patrick's Day manicure. Just follow along and do as the da Vinci does—our adroit instructor is a surgical robot, with a hefty price tag of approximately 1.3 million dollars, plus several hundred thousand dollars in annual maintenance fees. In truth, the da Vinci doesn't have the brain power to dictate the folding of a simple origami plane, nor does it know how to paint orange and green...

News: Sci-fi Spray-On Skin Has Arrived

In a fascinating preview for an upcoming episode of a National Geographic show, Dr. Jorg Gerlach demonstrates an instrument of innovation in the field of stem cell research. A prototype of a spray-on skin gun allows doctors to coat severe burns with the victim's own skin cells, resulting in nearly healed skin in just four days.

How To: Perform a phlebotomy with a butterfly needle

I want to draw your blood! Well, if you want to draw someone's blood (also known as phlebotomy) this video will show you how to do it. This is a very common thing, especially if you're working as a nurse, nurse's aid, a doctor or even a vet. You'll want to do it right to ensure safety and comfort to your patient. Watch the video and see what it takes to find the vein, insert the needle and get that blood out and into your tube.

How To: Perform a general abdominal exam on a patient

Any patient with pain in the abdominal area will require you to perform an abdominal examination, and this video lesson outlines in great detail, how to perform a general abdomen exam. This is great for any medical student or up-and-coming doctor — even nursing students could benefit from this exam procedure. You'll learn about inspection of the abs, auscultation, percussion, palpation, the liver, the aorta, and the spleen. After watching the full procedure, you should be able to identify the...