Nurse Negotiations; Vaccinations and Arthritis; Alzheimer's Tracking Device

Twin Cities nurses have overwhelmingly approved a new contract, which means a strike will not happen. The agreement voted on Tuesday covers 12 thousand nurses at 14 different hospitals. Under the agreement, the nurses gave up their demand for rigid nurse–to–patient ratios and the hospitals withdrew their proposal to cut pension and health care benefits. The nurses went on a one–day strike June 10. But the walkout planned for Tuesday was to be open–ended.

A new study out is showing there is no link between adult vaccinations and developing rheumatoid arthritis. Those vaccinations include flu, tetanus, diphtheria, tick–borne encephalitis, polio and hepatitis. Results show the type or number of vaccinations a person receives has no impact on whether they'll develop arthritis. This result does not rule out the possibility of vaccinations given earlier in life, or rare vaccinations triggering the development of the disease.

The Alzheimer's Association is pushing a new product to track alzheimer's patients. Often, as the disease progresses, these patients will become disoriented and wander. But this ID braclet could help. On the backside it says this person has dementia as well as any other conditions they might also have to alert whomever finds the person. Also available is a personal tracking device that fits onto a key chain, cell phone or something comfortable for the patient. It alerts the caregiver if the patient has left a certain area.