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Health

SELF-CARE AND THE ART OF HANDWASHING

This is the 200th Celebratory year of Florence Nightingale’s birth (May 12, 1820).   Florence was the first practicing Nurse Epidemiologist in the world (“Fundamentals of Nursing”, Eighth Edition; Patricia Potter & Anne Perry; Page 2).  

Epidemiology is the study (scientific, systematic, and data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global). (cdc.gov)

Consequently, 2020 is designated by the World Health Organization as the “Year of the Nurse”.  This acknowledgement motivates me to raise the awareness level of sanitary techniques introduced by Florence during the Crimean War in the mid-1800’s that decreased infection rates of soldiers from 43% to 2%. (Fundamentals of Nursing”, Eighth Edition; Patricia Potter & Anne Perry; Page 2).

One effective way to help prevent any virus or bacteria from spreading is through thorough handwashing techniques.   This is a list of two that I have been using and teaching clients:

ALCOHOL BASED HAND SANITIZER: 
1 – Apply a dime-sized amount (2-3 drops) into palms of dry hands
2 – Rub product into the hands as follows:
Placing palm to palm begin applying onto fingertips of each hand rubbing between and around  fingers.
     Rub each thumb and the back of each hand with opposite palm.
3 – Rub hands until dry and do not wipe off.
This technique is effective if hands do not have any food, clinging dirt or other noticeable substances.  Otherwise use warm running water and soap technique.
HAND WASHING WITH RUNNING WARM WATER AND SOAP
1 – Wet hands under running water
2 – Apply soap by rubbing over hands vigorously to create an abundant lather
3 – Rub palm to palm, fingertips of each hand going in between and around fingers         
4 – Clasp each thumb then finish rubbing the back of each hand with opposite palm
5 – Rinse hands thoroughly under warm running water
Repeat this technique if you want to be sure that you gave yourself enough time to thoroughly sanitize yourself after using the gas pump, shopping carts, ATM machines, or other items in public places.
Take the time to be cautious not only during this Covid19 panic but all throughout the year.
Namaste,
Nurse Judith
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Health

Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention for Managing Pain and Anxiety

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POWER HEALING through P.O.W.E.R. GOALS

When a painter paints a landscape, he or she starts with a rough sketch of the background of sky and distant perspective.  This is a very important step because it will usually determine the emotional content and overall balance of the painting whether it is gloomy and cloudy or sunny and bright.  Similarly, the general manner of approach to working with a health coach starts with a rough sketch of identifying patterns, challenges and needs to achieving goals. Sometimes it takes a few attempts to connect with the right perspective for you and a Health Coach can tap into expanding that thought process.  It can take 30, 60 or 90 days to find the balance necessary to make things happen.      
Over the past several years, health-conscious individuals have engaged in my health coaching services to mentor them through and to their health goals.   Successful outcomes are documented and based upon specific feedback in order to keep track of what tools were used toward achievements.  Subsequently, the information is sent to the client to create a personal achievement record file.  The use of the  P.O.W.E.R. GOAL approach encompasses formulating the specific tasks needed for these successful outcomes.
The journey to heal using the P.O.W.E.R. GOAL contains the following:
P:  Present-time:  starting now in pursuing your goal.  Starting with who you are at this time
                                 And where it is you would like to take yourself.
O:  Opportunities:  that you can foresee as ways to get you to an achievable goal.
W:  Writing:  strategies that are specific to achieving your goal and writing in a journal about
                         them.
E:  Engaging:  in activities that provide positive changes for an optimal lifestyle.
R:  Recognizing:  roadblocks.  Predict and be aware of what they are and know what it
                               Takes to overcome them.
A Health Coach cannot do these things for you but they can empower you to formulate a plan and keep you on track.  A Coaching session should encompass a positive attitude, solutions-oriented thinking and compassion.  The P.O.W.E.R. Goal is a compass to finding your way toward Power Healing.
P.O.W.E.R. Goals are specific to Beaulieu Health and Wellness Associates and were created by Judith Beaulieu, RN, BSN, MIS,CHC, RYI, HTCP    

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Linking Pharma to Dharma

Energy Therapy with Sandra Egli, Th.D., Ph.D.  
Dr. Egli is an Ordained Minister, Practitioner of Integrated Kabbalistic Healing and Brennan Healing Science.  I was intuitively led to her when planning a trip to Arizona with my husband.
Before leaving for our trip, I secured an appointment to see Sandra Egli on January 4th, 2019. The intention was set for a session of energy therapy while on vacation.  The goal of my visit encompassed Sacral Chakra issues.  It led me to seek intervention from an experienced healer with a perspective toward spiritual truths and intuition using philosophies that resonate with me to get to the “root” cause of my physical pain and emotional trauma.  
The day arrived for my appointment.  Her office,  known as “The Center of Intention for Healing”, is located in a Medical Professional Building on the campus of Shae Hospital.   I was early for the session so my husband and I waited outside in an area situated between parking lots.   We sat under a huge statue of an Angel with a plaque at its base that read Psalm 91:11 “For He orders His Angels to protect you wherever you go.”  A sense of wellbeing came over me at that moment and I felt a loving energy surrounding the space that hubby and I shared.
When the time came to meet Dr. Egli, I entered her office and was met by her glowing auric fields with this smiling face coming out from them.  I attuned to her energy immediately.  
Dr. Egli led me through a long hallway to her “Sacred Space.”   It was a small room set up with 2 comfortable chairs, a small table next to each chair and bottled water placed on each table.  A huge credenza stood against the wall on the opposite side of the room from where we sat.  There was one large window on the west wall of the room where the afternoon sunlight radiated through it.  
The session began with me sharing what was on my mind at the present moment.  Starting with growing up as an only child, raised by a mother who had an anxiety disorder and was physically and emotionally abusive to me; and an alocoholic father who suffered from PTSD after WWII.    I told her about how my mother’s mother and father migrated to American in the early 1900’s.   I talked about my need for back surgery and addressed my reproductive issues that left me unable to have children.  I spoke about recently having to take care of 3 family members  through to their recent death.  Mental tapes from my past have continued to road block me from moving forward and I have not found any self-healing or energy modalities that help to clear them.  
Concluding the intake of my information, Dr. Egli recommended Family Constellation Therapy and It energetically felt that is was the right intervention based upon her quick feedback.  She proceeded to gather a square tray with several figurines that were magnetized. She placed the figurines onto the tray in order of my family lineage from my mother’s side of the family with both my mother and father next to each other heading the tribe of ancestors dating back 11,000 years ago.  She did not place that many figurines but we imagined all of them being represented by the few that were aligned behind figurines of my grandparents.  She verbalized that it took all of these people to bring forth my life.  
She instructed me to call upon all of my ancestors to enter the room and to let her know when I felt their presence.  It did not take more than a few minutes to attune to the energy of their spirits in the room.  We both stood up and faced them at the back of the room.  She told me to repeat her words beginning with addressing my mother.  She began “I am not you, I am me.  You are you and I am me.”  I cannot remember all of the exact words spoken from this segment of the healing session.  The gist of it was to define our separateness and giving back to my mother all of things that are not mine.  Dr. Egli told me to give back to my mother all that is not of me at this moment in my life.  At that moment an “Angel” stood in front of me holding a crystal ball.  I intuitively knew to place all of these thoughts and feelings into this crystal ball by gazing into it and releasing my memories and thoughts that did not serve me.   A healing event occurred when the Angel turned away from me still holding on to the crystal ball.   The energy in the room shifted my awareness level of knowing I was able to go beyond the parental fears and limitations that were put upon me earlier in this life. 
After a few moments,  I lovingly addressed my father, grandparents, and all of my grandparent ancestors that have brought me this life.  I spoke of my gratitude toward them realizing the empowerment they have given me to live their lives that brought me into existence on this planet.  After expressing my love for them, we bowed with our hands opened towards them.  
Transitioning to an upright position and turning our backs to my ancestor spirits, Dr. Egli placed her left hand on my back between my shoulder blades.  She spoke on behalf of my ancestor spirits.  They wanted me to know they are there for me to fulfill my purpose in life as a healer.  I was informed that my life will be long and healthy and that this life fulfills my journey as a healer and my healing endeavors go beyond this lifetime. 
Dr. Egli advised me to ground myself every day.  She said she will keep me in her prayers and asked me to text her with the date of my upcoming surgery and that she will send long distance healing.  Grounding for me is rooting to the earth, being in the present moment,  aligning and connecting with the “roots” of my ancestors who walked this earth.  The grounding transitions me to become more and more of the truth of my self. 
It has been over a month since my energy work with Dr. Egli.  I have not experienced any flashbacks or negative feelings.    I have received additional Healing Touch Sessions and started a medication for the nerve pain in my back which provided relief from the sciatica.    A follow-up appointment with the doctor revealed that I hold off on the surgery since I do not have the pain.
Recently, I met a friend for lunch that I had not seen for several months.  She commented that my composure was different and that I had a softer appearance.  She said that she used to sense a tension coming from my field and now it was gone. Tears of joy filled her,  accompanied by goosebumps up and down her arms after she relayed her observations to me.   I was so glad she was able to tell me and thanked her for it.    
Each day brings improved health.  It is amazing how much better I feel this week compared to last as I continue with self-care and gratitude for everything and everyone in my life – especially my husband, friends and a few family members that have been there for me in this life – and all of my ancestors that have made it possible for me to exist in order to live this life in healing service to humanity.
    
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Science of Unitary Human Beings

S

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The Evolution of a Holistic Nurse

After graduating high school, I acquired a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and immediately started working within teaching hospitals in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Over the next 20 years the medical profession became less satisfying to my idea of helping people get better.  As a matter of fact, it turned out that hospitals became very scary places.

Hospitals emphasized using medications as the first line of treatment for everything, followed by invasive procedures, numerous laboratory tests and an environment that did not provide for the comfort of the patient.  Food trays were served without very much nutritional content and seemed to portray a convenience for the dietary staff to fill doctor’s orders without consideration toward nutritional values.  Assembly line care became the norm and former methods used to relax patients such as a back rub before going to sleep, keeping the patient’s room quiet and respecting their privacy went by the wayside.

The time came when I could not bear to work in the hospital environment any longer.  Healthcare Professionals discharged patients with instruction to be seen in the doctor’s office so many weeks later expecting them to get better with more medication and/or medical treatments.  This was in conflict to my philosophy of assisting a body to heal itself through adequate sleep, good nutrition, a comfortable environment and helping people discover their own healing process without much need for pain and sleep mediations.

I worked within the Pharmaceutical Industry and acquired an in-depth understanding about the effects of medication: benefits and risks.  I learned how Healthcare Professionals focused upon pharmaceutical interventions using peer reviewed statistically significant studies.  I became adept in state-of-the-art marketing and all aspects of cost-effective benefits to hospitals.  This led me to become top in the industry and was the gift that helped to create my own business to use non-pharmaceutical interventions to help the body heal.

I discovered the American Holistic Nurses Association at the same time I was working within the Pharmaceutical Industry.  Their mission connected to my personal philosophy as a nurse.  It states in the Handbook for Practice (Holistic Nursing, Fifth Edition, Dossey and Keegan 2009) that:

“A Holistic Nurse is a nurse who recognizes and integrates body-mind-spirit-environment principles and modalities in daily life and clinical practice, creates a caring healing space within herself or himself that allows the nurse to be an instrument of healing, shares authenticity of unconditional presence that helps to remove the barriers to the healing process, facilitates another person’s growth (body-mind-emotion-spirit-environment connections), and assists with recovery from illness or transition to peaceful death.” (Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice” Pages 48-49)

I began a community health intervention in 2010 as a Nurse Health Coach and started a non-profit organization.  At the time, insurance did not cover Health Coaching or Allied Health Services.  The Department of Labor and Industry did not have Health & Wellness Coaching as a profession.  Over the next 2 years I brought nurses and allied health professionals together within the community to offer Health Coaching, Yoga and Healing Touch Therapy.  My website was recognized by consumers, students, hospitals, Managed Care Organizations, Corporations, Retirement Communities, Healthcare Professionals and the local news media.

When the Beaulieu Yoga and Healthcoaching Studio opened for business, the services included free Yoga classes for the underserved, health-oriented group workshops and private Yoga and Coaching sessions.  People ended their work day with a Yoga Class and college students wanted a way to manage their academic stress with Restorative Yoga.  Therapeutic Yoga techniques were provided as a result of doctors referring chronic back pain patients needing a non-pharmaceutical intervention to relieve their pain.  After 3 years of operating the studio, a few of my family members needed me to be their caregiver and the studio closed.

While taking care of the family, I registered in a Healing Touch Program offered at The Nemours Hospital for Children.  After completing 5 Levels of Healing Touch Training I became a Healing Touch Practitioner.  I have provided Healing Touch to Healthcare Professionals, University Faculty, Staff and Students, Retirement Community Residents, friends and family members.

The American Holistic Nurses Association published a “Position Statement” on the role of nurses in the practice of Complementary & Integrative Health Approaches (CHIA).

“AHNA supports the integration of complementary and alternative therapies into conventional healthcare to enable the client to benefit from the best of all treatments available.” 

Some Hospitals incorporate complementary therapy to manage pain.  They have been contracting services with Health Coaches, Healing Touch Practitioners and Yoga Therapists as well as developing Wellness Centers that are staffed with safe and effective professionals who deliver Complementary modalities.  The time has come when I am no longer afraid to work within a hospital system.   I am now actively providing Healthcoaching, Restorative Yoga and Healing Touch Therapy through contracting with local hospitals, universities and retirement communities.

I believe with all of my heart, mind and spirit that human beings can achieve incredible things when their Healthcare Professionals open their mind to all healing possibilities.  “The traditional healing arts of the East and modern medial technology of the West are complementary branches of the same tree, and that together they provide a far more complete picture of human health and offer far more effective therapies for human disease than either one can possibly do alone.” (The Complete Book of Chinese Health and Healing by Daniel P. Reed; Shambhala Publications, Inc. 1992)

  

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Health

PHARMA TO DHARMA: Managing pain in the Hospital Setting

The revised Joint Commission Accreditation Standards for Health Care Organizations became effective January 1, 2018 which includes…” involving patients in developing their treatment plans and setting realistic expectations and measurable goals.”  (www.jointcommission.org; The Joint Commission Perspectives; July 2017, Volume 37, Number 7.)

This calls for assigning a Health Coach to partner and coordinate the many aspects of life to overcome roadblocks and achieve goals.   

What to expect through the process of Health Coaching:

§        Health Coaching brings ideas and information from all areas of life to help patients in developing their “individualized” treatment plan.   
§       Health Coaching educates patients by translating research or concepts into understandable language.
§       Health Coaching assists in formulating questions directed to Insurance Providers and Healthcare Professionals involved in treatment plans.
§       Health Coaching establishes partnership with referrals to properly credentialed complementary therapists and healthcare professionals.

The Joint Commission published Facts About Joint Commission Accreditation Standards For Health Care Organizations: Pain Assessment and Managementunder the “Topics” menu on February 26, 2018.  These standards require hospitals to revise their policy and procedures. Included in the revisions the Joint Commission requires accredited hospitals to establish policy and procedures, based on clinical determination where appropriate, that includes providing… “at least one non-pharmaceutical pain treatment modality”.      www.jointcommission.org/facts_about_joint_commission_accredi…dards_for_health_care__organizations_pain_assessment_and_management/ 

HEALING TOUCH:
There are many complementary modalities.  One that best suits the hospital setting is Healing Touch. Healing Touch is an energy healing therapy in which practitioners consciously use their hands in a heart-centered and intentional way to enhance, support and facilitate physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health and self-healing.  Healing Touch utilizes using light or near body touch to clear, balance and energize the human energy system in order to promote health and healing for mind, body and spirit.


This modality has been developed in the 1980s by a nurse, Janet Mentgen RN, BSN, HTP/1, HNC.  Healing Touch was revolutionized as a medical model by Janet which includes a clinical approach to energy based therapy that is taught within the Healing Touch Program. (www.healingtouchprogram.com)  Subsequently, the American Nurses Association, American Holistic Nurses Association and the National League of Nursing endorses Healing Touch. Certification in Healing Touch  is attained through the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.  

Namaste,  Nurse Judith   

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Healing Touch Program: An Introduction to Healing Touch part 1of 2

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The Daily Bandha: The Supraspinatus Muscle

The Daily Bandha: The Supraspinatus Muscle

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YOGA in a Modern Society

America is a multicultural society.  The search for continuity among diverse backgrounds continues with more and more people from other countries bringing traditions that have been in their families for centuries to America.    
A well-known tradition influencing the American population from India is Yoga.   The ancient tradition of Yoga made its way into America in the 1970s and it continues its presence into our high tech life.    America is finding ways to use the practice of Yoga in healthcare, businesses, schools and everyday life.   This tradition was embraced and tailored to fit into America’s Modern Society for all humans irregardless of age, gender, weight,  physical challenges, etc. 
Yoga influenced my career as a Professional Nurse and evolved it in the direction of Wellness Care.    After studying the “Fundamentals of Yoga” within a basic 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training which encompassed its philosophy, history of folklore and the people who established it,  I decided to embrace an in-depth study of the physical components of Yoga which are the postures and breath work.   I sought out medical professionals who practice, study and teach Yoga to learn from their medical perspective about breath, movement, limitations, mindfulness, and modifications to postures.  This ultimately fulfilled my profession as a Registered Nurse and RegisteredYoga Instructor.    
Nurses are integrating Yoga into their Scope of Practice and becoming Yoga Instructors in order to facilitate the healing process within hospitals and out-patient clinics.  Recently I took a continuing education program: “Yoga Nursing Essentials” by Annette Tersigni, RN, “The Yoga Nurse”.  The course focused on the use of Yoga for Stress Management and provided ways to integrate Yoga into patient care.  The course was a preliminary requirement for membership into Annette’s Yoga Nurse Academy.
The American Journal of Holistic Nursing publishes on-going research by nurses on the benefits of Yoga to manage pain, fatigue and anxiety.  Corporate Nurse Wellness Consultants are using Restorative Yoga  in coaching sessions to manage stress, relieve tension and improve productivity while at work.  Managed Care is starting to recognize the use of Yoga when part of a therapeutic program overseen by a physician as well as provide coverage through Wellness Accounts. 
Yoga has become modernized while sustaining its integrity as an art and science.   Using Yoga as a tool to connect the energies between breathing, movement, alignment of the body and concentration of the mind empowers people to take charge of their health.  Yoga provides me with an enhanced feeling of well-being and not a day goes by without taking the time to incorporate it into my daily life. 
My deepest appreciation for the tradition of Yoga and the people who introduced it to us here in America.  Nameste.