Dapivirine Vaginal Ring Prevents HIV

The first topical HIV prevention method to be submitted for regulatory approval, it is an intravaginal silicone ring, developed by the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) for HIV prevention.

Also read: Campus Mafisi

The ring delivers an antiretroviral drug called dapivirine. It’s released slowly over the course of one month directly to vaginal tissue to help protect against HIV at the site of potential infection. Little of the drug is absorbed elsewhere in the body resulting in low systemic uptake.

Also read :Crash Cart

This means that the drug is unlikely to be found in high concentrations in the bloodstream and other body tissues, which may reduce side effects as well the risk of development of HIV resistance. Data from Phase III studies of the ring show no evidence that the ring increased resistance to NNRTIs, the class of ARV drug to which dapivirine belongs and which is also used in some treatment regimens.

The Dapivirine Vaginal Ring reduces the risk of HIV-infection, and offers a discreet and long-acting alternative to daily oral PrEP.

Although access to daily oral PrEP is increasing around the world, a daily pill is not a suitable or desirable prevention method for everyone. Today, women account for more than half of all people living with HIV globally, and face persistently high HIV-infection rates. Experience introducing oral PrEP in many countries has revealed that women face unique challenges when it comes to adhering to a daily pill due to gender inequity, social norms and other structural barriers.

Efficacy data shows that the ring reduces HIV risk by 35 percent, with recent data from open label extension studies suggesting a greater reduction in HIV risk by about half. Modelling has shown that even a partially effective prevention option can have an important protective impact for women and their communities as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy.

Like oral PrEP, the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring does not protect against other STIs or unwanted pregnancy.

The ring does not reduce risk of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis or herpes, or unwanted pregnancy. There are studies underway examining the safety of a combined dapivirine-levonorgestrel ring that would protect against both HIV infection and unwanted pregnancy, as well as different vaginal rings that combine antiretrovirals and other medications to prevent STIs.

For more information read Dapivirine

Top Nursing Jobs Away from the bedside

“Tired of the Bedside??"

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1️⃣ Flight Nurse: A RN trained to care for patients arriving at a medical facility via an emergency Aircraft 🚁. Trained to manage a number of conditions in-flight.

2️⃣ Forensic Nurse: Provides care to victims of violent crimes and collects evidence and DNA.

3️⃣ Aesthetic Nurse: This nurse administers non-invasive cosmetic procedures including dermal fillers, chemical peels and anti-wrinkle injections. 

4️⃣ Nurse Consultant: The Nurse uses their experience and expertise to provide medical information to those otherwise not know. A “legal” nurse consultant can provide this expertise on criminal cases. 

5️⃣ Nurse Educator: These Nurses teach the nurses. Nurse educators are strong communicators and are responsible for developing and teaching nursing curriculum.

Also read : Code Blue

6️⃣ Mental Health Nurse (NP): A mental health NP works with a team of psychiatric professionals to service patients suffering from mental health issues and disorders. This involves diagnosing and treating a variety of psychiatric conditions.

  Which position is for you?

The beauty of Nursing is being able to change the trajectory of your career when needed. Take an opportunity to see what field fits you best. Your career is in your hands!

 Also read : My Challenging Night Shift

Other off-bedside specialties:

-Travel NP- 

-Telehealth

-School Nurse

-Pharmaceutical sales

-Nursing Informatics

-Public Health Nurse

-Cruise Ship Nurse

-Research Nurse

-Nutritionalist Nurse

-Correctional Nurse

-etc

The Code Cart Or "Crash Cart."

This is the heart of every unit. It’s the last weapon in the arsenal( get to know the meaning of arsenal not the football club); the final measure standing between this life and the next. Its function and its contents are universally known by nurses across the continuum. 

Also read: Team Mafisi

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You should certify it every 2 years to ensure that you are up to date with the latest evidence for optimal outcomes. You should run “mock codes” to train for the many scenarios that require precision and sound judgement. You should check it daily to ensure that it is properly functioning and equipped with the tools and medications designed for the single purpose of prolonging life and preventing death. Any missing item, oversight or misstep can mean the difference between success or failure. 

 Also read : Nurse Are Rude

No matter what is happening around us, when the Crash Cart is activated, nothing else in the nurse’s world matters in that moment. We form one team. We assume one role. We speak one language. And we unite together with one mission- to save a life. 

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When was the last time you familiarized yourself with the crash cart?

When was the last time your crash card was updated? 

YOUR PENIS CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE

Wait, I'm not saying that it can tell you the best future partner or which career path to tow but it is clinically recognized as a future predictor of heart disease.

Many Cardiovascular diseases leads to damage of the endothelial cells of the blood vessels leading to hyper-inflammation.

📷 credit: fb 

This rapidly prevents arteries and veins from pumping oxygenated blood around the body which leads to the heart being starved of oxygen causing "Myocardial infarction" (what is commonly called heart attack).

Other conditions like atherosclerosis or hypertension can also cause heart attack - but whatever the cause, there are often no warning signs.

No signs usually except sudden problems in your sexual life (performance and satisfaction). Unless you can manage to be doing ECG to predict any heart disease occurance

This is because your penile erection requires a healthy blood flow.

Therefore when you have any issue with blood circulation, your penis will not have enough blood to engorge to the required level and behold, you start reducing performance in the bedroom.

That is why you need to seek help immediately your sexual performance starts dropping........you might just save your life.

Dear Queens, help your significant other by calling their attention if you notice a repeated dip in their sexual performance.

DOES SIZE REALLY MATTER?

 This has been a subject of debate over the years and as usual in things concerning sexuality, there as been more emphasis on the male than the female therefore I beg to look at the female perspective. 

 Within the reproductive organs of a female stands the replica of the penis called the clitoris.

☝️

You can now order your clitorial designed pillow

 Also read: HIV and immune boosters

 Made from the same tissue of the penis, almost the same length of the average penis (about 5.1 inches sometimes up to 8 inches) and even more sensitive than the penis (I guess what a man can do, a woman can do better). 

 If the clitoris is of the same make as the penis and there are debates on how the size of the penis matter in sexual satiety, does the size of the clitoris matter in a woman's sexual satisfaction as pertaining ability to achieve orgasm? The size of the clitoris does not really matter, but the size of the clitoral hood does matter.

  The clitoral hood affects attainment of orgasm because it's affects the amount of sensation that can get to your clitoris. This is why many women easily reach orgasm why masturbating than when with a partner. 

Also read: Watch Out this ladies in campus

 Clitoral hood is the fold of skin that surrounds and protect the glans clitoris (it is the female equivalent of the male foreskin).

 The clitoral hood protects the sensitive glans clitoris from irritation and excessive sensation (maybe from underwear). 

 It retracts when the clitoris is aroused (just like the male foreskin) although level of retraction differs. The thicker your clitoral hood, the more pressure needed to reach orgasm. 

 Sometimes, the clitoral hood might adhere and not retract at all thereby blocking the clitoris from being stimulated which results in sexual frustration. 

Also read: Sexy Girl In Campus

 Dear Queens, your sexual satisfaction is not only the responsibility of your partner, it's pertinent to know and understand yourself so you can guide your partners right for mutual satisfaction.

  #sexualhealth #reproductivehealth

MY MOST CHALLENGING SHIFT

Nurses play one of the most vital   roles in delivery of care within the healthcare industry ,caring for people when they are at most vulnerable and offering support are some of  the fundamental tenants of  of nursing.

Night shift are horrible, but I prefer it to Day duty because I love to have my days to myself.

I was on my Second in a row and I was tired- the sort of tired where your eyes feel hot and sunken and blinking takes three to four seconds, and you never knew a reflex could be so tortuous.

Also read : Disunity In Nursing... The Way To Go

On that day , I took over ten patients, six were critical, I mean four of them on non rebreathable mask and two in NIV Helmet Ventilation but oxygen saturation was less than 60% on oxygen 15L/minutes and 45L/min respectively at that moment. I knew am in for a sleepless night.

I was monitoring vital signs every quarter hourly and also answering & calling Covering Nursing Office about state of patients and need for more oxygen cylinders, Oxygen buzzler and Alarm were the only Music tune I could here after every few hours. 

Funnily enough there was also a bird that was producing a similar tone to that if Oxygen Alarm, so I had to go and check the percentage of oxygen available in the cylinders. 😂😂

My attention was drawn to one of the patient at around 1am, On getting to the him, he was already gasping, SPO2 has dropped to less down 50%....then 30%. We immediately informed the Physician , all emergency medication including CPR despite not recommended in Covid set up prove abortive. I lost my patients 😭😭

Also read: Beautiful Brainy Girl

As if that was not enough, my attention was drawn to another patient that was panting for air. I couldn't save this other patient too
I lost 2 of my patients on that dreadful night😭I was so confused and helpless.
I didn't start writing report until around 7am when I am supposed to be handing over the shift. I was tired and exhausted. And I ended up closing that shift at 1Oam.
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That day I learnt that, no matter all we do to save a patient life. What will be will surely be and that God has the final say, He alone can give and take life...

Then I look at one of the bereaved son and this quote by Arthur Golden  flash my mind-

"Grief is a most peculiar thing; we're so helpless in the face of it. It's like a window that will simply open of its own accord. The room grow cold but we can do nothing but shiver. But it open a little less each time, and a little less; and one day we wonder what has become if it"

Also read: Bullying and harassment in nursing
_______________________________
What really helped me that night was  staying positive through out the shift and this helped a lot in achieving greater job satisfaction even though I end up losing patients , I know I have try my best.

#TheCovidNurse #TheNurse

HIV + And Immune Boosters

Boosting the immune system is not that easy. None of the so-called ‘immune boosters’ that you see advertised in our country have been proven to help people with HIV…the only thing they boost, is the bank accounts of the people who sell them.

Your immune system is highly complex. It consists of thousands of different cells and enzymes that interact in many complicated ways. Along with the brain, the immune system is possibly the most complicated system that exists. This is one of the reasons why it is extremely difficult to find a way to boost it. The best natural and God-given way to boost your immune system is to wash your hand evertime you eat anything, avoid eating spoilt food, having unprotected sex, avoid breathing droplets that someone has coughed out, and I dare say; avoid kissing anyhow. Germs can enter your body according to the kind microbes they are and through means I stated above. Once a germ is inside your body, your immune system goes to to war against it. You need cells known as phagocytes to attack these germs and destroy them using a number of bodily chemical weapons….and no amount of ‘immune boosters’ can do this job. It is your natural immune system and it alone that can figure out these germs and protect you against them by producing antibodies to fight them. One kind of cell involved in making all this work is a T lymphocyte (T-cell). Some of these T cells have a receptor called a CD4. CD4 cells in your body are produced naturally by your immune system…not the ‘immune boosters’.

When your CD4 is low…all you need is an ARV regimen coupled with protected sex, washing of your hands before eating, avoiding eating spoilt food and kissing…in that way you immune system can be assisted in naturally producing more CD4s to fight germs in your body and thus stay healthy…not the ‘immune boosters’…There is no scientific evidence that ‘immune boosters’ boost the immune system.