Rain soaked mudflat between Dowerin and Meckering. Western Australia

 

 photo taken by Deborah Quirke

Swabbing for COVID-19 technique

I observed the collection of a nasal specimen for the Corona virus on television yesterday and was disturbed to see that the swab was inserted about 6 to 8 cm in the nose, causing pain. There are guidelines available on the internet that state that oro-pharyngeal specimen swabs need to be inserted approximately from the outside of the nostril to where the opening of the nose is. In this case, it would only be acceptable for a nasal swab (at this depth) on a cadava and when done by a coroner during an autopsy. Nasal swabs can be taken as a dry viral swab or with a swab which is broken off into a vial of transport medium (depending on what the laboratory requires). A nasal swab is taken by inserting it around 1.5 cm and 2.5 cm in a gentle sweeping action around the nare. The same swab can be used to repeat on the other nare, or separate swabs can be taken. The oro - pharyngeal swab is taken by gently rolling the swab down the back of the mouth (not the throat) adjacent to the molars/epiglottis and repeated on the other side. If three swabs are required, similar results can be acquired from  2 nasal and one oro-pharyngeal or one nasal and 2 oro-pharyngeal. The nasal swabs usually cause the patient to flinch because the mucous membranes are often inflamed and sensitive from the virus. It shouldn't be painful. The deep nasal swabbing technique shown on television disturbs me because it seems extreme and unnecessarily uncomfortable when patients may already be feeling ill. There is also no reason why the patient couldn't be given alcohol rub for their hands and insert the nasal swab themselves (with a glove if available). This is not the dark ages. A naso-pharyngeal swab would be performed with an endotracheal tube, and is usually collected from suctioned secretions.

Father Christmas made it to Australia: I finally have evidence.

Photograph taken by D. Quirke on Xmas morning,  December 2019

Bay of Islands, N.Z - volcanic explosion

Choppers and emergency crew have been sent from Whakatani to assist critically injured people on White Island, which has just had a violent volcanic explosion. White Island is off the coast of the Bay of Islands, site of the Treaty of Waitangi.

So You didn't want a light-Saber from Santa: Tech-Tinkering at Wellard

Sebastian Malcolm holds  'Tech-Tinkering' on the first Saturday of each month at the , for anyone who wants to see a 3 D printer in action, look at Enhanced Reality or tinker with a few bits and pieces. sorry I missed you, but I connected to wi-fi and held my first sabre at John Wellard Community Centre today. Dheborah.

photos taken by Dheborah Quirke

Official opening of the new Mukinbudin Nursing Post 1 November 2019

Mukinbudin Nursing Post-photographs taken by D.Quirke

The new Mukinbudin Nursing Post was officially opened by the Hon. Laurie William Graham M.L.C yesterday, on the 1st November 2019. Afternoon tea was provided by the Mukinbudin Boodie Rats. Guests included  Hon. Mia Jane Davies MLA, Gary Shadbolt (Shire Council President), Evelyn Comerford - Smith (retired Shire Council President), Romina Nicolletti, and Sandie Ventris (recent Deputy Shire President), Tayla Pillage, Jennifer Reid (WA Primary Health Alliance), Wendy Newman (Deputy chair of West Australian Health Services Board), Edward Nind, Ashley Walker, Callum Mc Glashum, Jo Randall (Health Service Manager of Kununoppin hospital),, Cath Kirby ( EWPH Community Health Nurse manager), Sue Copeland, (Community Health Nurse) Robbie Fagan (retired Mukinbudin Nursing Post RN), Jill Squire (past Mukinbudin Nursing Post RN), Jacinta Herbert (Manager Eastern Wheatbelt Primary Health), Dr Leena Bayly, and Christine Halston (Project Manager). While greater forces blasted the attendees with fierce winds, beneath a clouded sky, "Welcome to Country" was read by Jenny (female community leader) from Aboriginal Health in Merredin. Amongst the guests, power players from the Health Department, Jeffrey Moffet (Chief Executive WACHS) and Sean acted as trouble shooters. Almost nursing royalty, the doyennes of the wheatbelt nursing leadership included figures such as Suzanne Seeley (nurse lead  Southern Inland Health Initiative of Western Australia), who had also opened the upgraded Merredin hospital earlier in the day. 

 Deborah Lee Quirke (RN Mukinbudin Nursing Post).

(whose fondest memories include filling buckets of water for the school goat in swampy MereMere primary school during the school holidays).

Trying to slide....

(Coming from someone who fell in love a few times)
This short song clip by Cody Simpson may explain a million unanswered questions...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=166&v=EZJHJFaTumk