Hello! My son has a gtube that he will be getting removed. We have an excess amount of supply: feeding bags, extension, etc. Does anyone know of places in Indiana that take medical supplies donation? I would hate to throw it away when someone could use it.

To preface , I am not saying that I believe ALL hospital nurses are this way. I am only referring to experiences with my local hospital system. Wondering if anyone else has noticed the same.

I work with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sometimes they develop acute illnesses that require hospitalization. As staffing allows, we make every effort to provide staff to accompany them at the hospital. However we get short staffed too and can’t always send someone to sit at the hospital. It’s very noticeable when we aren’t able to send our staff to the hospital. These individuals are usually nonverbal and sometimes immobile, which is communicated thru paperwork sent to hospital.
Upon discharge it’s not uncommon for us to get these individuals back with new pressure ulcers, visible plaque build up on the teeth, hair matting, strong smell of body odor, unshaven, and just entirely unkempt.
I have not worked as a nurse in the hospital so I try not to judge. I’m not expecting them to come back looking like they just left the spa, but they come back showing signs of neglect.
These people do not have the ability to express their needs or wants. it seems apparent that tooth brushing, hair combing, basic hygiene care is not being provided as a result of them being unable to express the need.

My question is this- do hospital nurses or techs not provide hygiene care unless it is asked for? What is like on your side? Any training for working with individuals with intellectual disabilities?

I try not to judge because I know what it’s like to be understaffed and overworked, but the conditions I’m seeing these people in are unacceptable

What it’s used for

• Seizure disorders
• Mood stabilization
• Aggression management

Common side effects

• Weight gain
• Drowsiness
• Tremor
• Hair thinning

IDD-specific risks

• Elevated ammonia → confusion
• Liver toxicity
• Sedation affecting participation

Signs DSPs should report

• Lethargy or confusion
• Vomiting
• Yellowing of skin/eyes
• Increased seizures

Nursing considerations

• Monitor liver function tests
• Assess ammonia levels if mental status changes
• Track sedation impact

Discussion

Have you seen confusion linked to elevated ammonia levels?

This sub posts educational content, jobs, webinars, etc that have to do with intellectual/developmental disability nursing.

So I am going in for surgery this coming Friday and having my iliostomy taken down and being reconnected to my colon.

I have a ton of left over extra supplies. Does anyone have any recs on what to do with them? Do you think the hospital ostomy team would accept them?

Has anyone here used weighted vests for osteoporosis or osteopenia?

I was reading about how weight-bearing exercise can help maintain bone density, and apparently some people use weighted vests while walking or doing normal daily activities to increase skeletal loading. It actually makes sense in theory since bones respond to stress/load over time.

I’m curious if anyone here has tried it personally or seen measurable improvement on DEXA scans from using one consistently. I’ve mostly seen it discussed for postmenopausal women and older adults, but I wonder if it could also help people with mobility limitations who can’t do higher-impact exercise safely.

Obviously not talking about throwing on a crazy amount of weight or replacing medical treatment, but more as an adjunct to walking/PT/strength training.

Would love to hear real-world experiences because there’s surprisingly not a ton of discussion about it outside research articles.

Hey! Hopefully this is allowed. I’m a former tubie and this has led to me having a huge surplus of old formula (not expired) and wanted to give it to anyone in need. I have peptimen 1.5, compleat 1.5 and potentially kate farms 1.5 or kate farms peptide 1.5. All I would ask is help with shipping costs. Please let me know if anyone needs it/charities I can give it to! Thank you!

I  just had my reversal (Yay!) I got a huge amount of ostomy supply to donate 

I got close to 10 boxes of Coloplast Esteem Body one bag system, and then everything else from all brands, - belts, wipes, barrier rings, deodorant,  paste, etc. 

Located in NYC

All staff working in OPWDD settings are mandated reporters. Allegations of abuse, neglect, or significant incidents must be reported immediately.

Types of reportable abuse include:

• Physical abuse
• Psychological abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Financial exploitation

Key compliance requirements:

Ensure immediate safety of the individual
Notify the Justice Center promptly
Preserve evidence when applicable
Document actions taken

Failure to report can result in legal consequences and continued harm.

Some background: This is an example of the day in a work life of an intellectual/developmental disability nurse. I worked for an agency where I supported multiple residences with healthcare oversight. This meant anything from patient assessments, injections, foley catheter care, training Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), giving meds, creating care plans, attending meetings, providing telephone triage, following up on medical appointments, etc.

I start my day by arriving at a residence at 7am. I have to watch a DSP give meds this morning for their yearly certification. My favorite part is observing the interactions between the staff and the residents. They wipe away the sleep from their eyes before they take their cup of meds and swallow them with some water. The residents of this house are more independent; they can swallow their meds whole with water and can apply topical medications on their own. The med pour is completed error-free, so I update his Approved Medication Administration Personnel (AMAP) form with the new certification date.

The DSP goes to help with breakfast. I begin my weekly house check. I usually always start with the MARs. This agency uses paper MARs to administer medications. I check everyone’s MARs to make sure they have received all the medications they were supposed to since last week, and that the DSPs signed for administration. I check the narcotics to make sure that the count is correct. I look at the expiration dates of the OTC meds. This house always has a problem keeping the internal meds separated from the external meds. I put them in their correct areas in the medication cabinet. I move on to checking the discarded empty blister packs. I count down on the back of them where the DSPs have signed for each dose to make sure that none were missing. Nice, no med errors this time. I document my findings in a weekly house check sheet and save it in the agency nursing share drive. I email it to the house manager and program coordinator so they can address anything that is deficient or just be aware of the good job they are doing.

It’s lunch time, so I head to my office to eat. I microwave my food and chill out for a few minutes before I’m interrupted with a phone call. I pick up and the person on the other line is a house manager who is concerned about a person just not “looking right.” Vitals are within normal range, but I’d rather be safe than sorry, and this manager knows this person well. I know that they are worried. She asks if she can take the person to Urgent Care. “Of course, take her right away,” I reply. “Keep me updated on what happens.”

I am still waiting for some diet orders to come back from the PCPs of the people on my caseload. I fax them again, noting that it’s the second time I’m faxing for documentation purposes. I access the EHR from my computer and start looking over the appointments that people have went on in the past week. I document on the appointments and note any recommendations I have to follow-up on.

The house manager calls back about the person not “looking right.” Her oxygen saturation dropped at the Urgent Care and she was immediately transferred via ambulance to the hospital. Admitted with pneumonia. IV antibiotics have been started. I thank her for the update and ask her to keep me informed of any changes.

Then I call another hospital for an update on one of my patients who was admitted with sepsis d/t aspiration pneumonia. The patient was recently transitioned to a g-tube, but that has not helped with the aspiration. The doctors continue to bring him back, but they are advocating for hospice care at this point. I have to begin Surrogate Decision-Making Court (SDMC) paperwork so that he can have a DNR/DNI put in place. This takes up the rest of my afternoon.

I give the on-call nurse report and then forward my agency phone to her number.

Feel free to ask me any questions about nursing in this field, or if you have any other questions about health, investigations, etc. I think it’s important for this industry to bridge the gaps between communication so there can be better outcomes for everyone.

I’m in NY so some regulations may be different