Vaginal exams are not a medical procedure that many patients look forward to. Medical equipment is used to examine a woman’s most personal area, something that she herself likely does not do. Aside from the physical discomfort, vaginal exams can make patients feel uncomfortable because the position and nature of the exam can make them…

Not everyone is diligent about ensuring that their stock of lube is properly maintained. When the situation arises where lubrication is required and there are not commercial lube products available, people tend to make due. What people find and use as lubricant tends to vary based on why they need lube, what is readily available,…

Since the widespread availability of surgical lubricants, many medical professionals have included lubrication as part of the process for a wide variety of procedures. Not all of these procedures necessarily require lubrication, but it is more pleasant for the patient experience and help the procedure go a little more smoothly. However, there are some procedures…

In the last few years, parabens have been a hot topic for many products, mostly makeup and personal care products. Parabens including methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and isobutylparaben, have been the favored preservative in moist multi-use products for their antimicrobial properties. These parabens inhibit the growth of fungus, bacteria, and other microbes that favor warm,…

The use of medical lubricants when providing invasive patient care is for more than patient comfort. While patient comfort is a great benefit of surgical lubricants, the main purpose is to prevent friction that can cause tissue damage. Not only can tissue damage be uncomfortable, but this unnecessary trauma can also create sores, inflammation, and…

An Enema is a procedure that in which a substance is injected into the rectum. Typically it is performed with the intent to expel feces in the event of constipation or impaction, but can also be used to administer medications or imaging dye. Enemas are an invasive procedure that tends to be quite uncomfortable for…

In the healthcare industry, infection is a great concern. Not only is infection or disease one of the primary reasons for patients to seek care, but the healthcare industry is at risk of exposing patients to a variety of microbes. Even using sterile technique cannot eliminate all bacterial presence, though it can significantly reduce it….

There are more microbes on and in your body that cells that make up your body! While this is not generally a problem, and most of them are actually useful and necessary, some of them are not. The human body has many defense mechanisms that help prevent the not-so-good ones from causing problems. However, in…

Like all allergies, latex allergies develop over time with exposure. This is a safety concern when it comes to protecting the patient, and critical to protecting healthcare staff. Once a latex allergy has been established, it can quickly escalate into a potentially deadly situation, with anaphylaxis being common. Healthcare workers who develop a latex allergy…

Regardless of the role, setting, and department you work in, if you work in the medical field in any patient care capacity, you already know that there are a few things that no medical professional can function without — a working pen, a trusty stethoscope, and quality lubricating jelly, just to name a few. The…