Nursing Essays

Nursing Essays Nursing Essay Nursing Essay Nursing Name: Course: Date: Nursing Introduction Nursing is one of the professions within health care that concentrates on the good health of people, families, and the society so they may get health, preserve it, or recuperate from poor health and other aspects of quality life. Nurses are slightly different from other health care providers in that their approach to caring for patients, education, and range of practice is different from doctors. Nurses work in a larger scope with different setting depending on the training they received. Many nurses do not have their own offices or job description but instead work within the shadow of physicians and this conventional role has shaped the public image of nurses as professionals who provide care services to patients. However, apart from working alongside doctors, nurses are allowed to practice independently in other private hospitals and medical environments. Since WWII, nurse education has been diversified towards complex and specific qualifications, and many of the conventional systems and roles have changed. In most modern hospitals, nurses perform almost similar tasks to doctors and even specialize in different aspects of patient care such as dental treatment or theater (Kearney-Nunnery, 2008). There are various categories of nurses based on the type of work they do, the level of education and the institutions of work. Nurse practitioners are those that have attained the minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and perform jobs similar to those of physicians such as prescribing treatments. Community public health nurses include district and health visitor nurses. Lecturer-practitioner nurses work within the public medical system for about 2-3 days every week then teach medicine courses in educational institutions. Lastly, there are fully-fledged lecturers who teach medicine-related courses in universities. Nursing is an interesting career because it holds infinite possibilities for nurses, has comfortable working conditions and good rewards in the form of salaries and other employee benefits and holds many opportunities for promotion and development. Work Schedule and responsibilities of nurses Nurses are concerned with nearly all the aspects of caring for patients from giving reassurance and cleanliness to giving prescribed injections, bringing up to date the medical records and well as slight restorative and analytical processes. The schedules and responsibilities for nurses differ depending on the profession and level of nursing. Surgical nurses assist in the OR with equipment and supplies from pre-surgical prep, to post-operative care. Nurses can be generalists or obtain Master’s degrees and additional certifications to specialize in a specific area such as pediatric, cardiac, neonatology, oncology, or just about any medical specialty (Farkas, 2012). Various nursing options that have been mentioned but one common factor runs across all types of nurses and that is the fact that is the nursing process. The nursing process refers to guidelines that control the behavior of nurses toward each patient that follows five main steps: assessment, analysis, scheduling, imp lementation and assessment. Education requirements and accomplishments for nurses Education for nurses comprises of practical and theoretical training with the intention of preparing individuals for their responsibilities as nurses. The nursing profession requires exemplary education achievements from the basic education level. A diploma in nursing is the minimum requirement that any student has to achieve before they can become a nurse. These diplomas are hospital-based and take up to three years and 30-62 credit hours (Farkas, 2012). Some of the subjects studied include microbiology, anatomy, chemistry, physiology and nutrition. The next level is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that is a four-year course. The degree level includes an internship period that exposes the students to real life experiences in medicine (Kearney-Nunnery, 2008). BSN students enjoy more clinical and classroom hours as compared to diploma students and BSN graduates can be recognized professional nurses. Clinical experience is however compulsory for all nursing students as it serves to increase the experience of most students. From this level, nursing students can choose to advance their studies to the masters or doctorate level. At the master’s level, the student is prepared for specialization that gives them the title of an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). At the advanced level, a nurse can choose to specialize as a nurse practitioner (NP) area, a midwife, a clinical nurse specialist or a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) (Farkas, 2012). Many nursing certifications and credentials are awarded according to the educational and professional achievements that nurses possess. The highest post nominal credential is the doctorate level. The state licensure and the title cannot be removed or revoked unless evidence of a professional misconduct can be brought before the court. Nurses also hold non-nursing credentials that are include in their titles. However, at the doctor of nursing level, most of the studying done revolves around diagnoses and treatment of illnesses. These education qualifications enable nursing students become more competent in other areas of medicine other than taking caring of patients. Benefits of nursing profession The nursing profession offers very high job security. Nursing is a very stable job and given the shortage of nurses globally, nurses have constant opportunities to work in their home countries or choose to work in foreign countries where their services are similarly required. The nursing profession is also very lucrative especially at the higher ranks where nurses occupy leadership and managerial positions. On average, a nurse at the degree level earns between $30,000 and $60, 000 per month while the more experienced and educated nurses earn up to $80, 000 that makes the profession very rewarding (Lucia et al, 2009). Nursing allows an individual to impact on the health condition of sick people in the world. The nursing profession places experts in position where they can alleviate pain, treat illnesses and bring happiness to the lives of suffering people. Many people suffer from internal and external illnesses that is alleviated and treated by nurses. The job is therefore very rewarding to nurses who value the life of a human being. Nurses have the option of applying to work in different parts of the world where they are needed the most and this enables an individual desiring to be a nurse, the chance to change the lives of the population where she desires. Other benefits of working as a nurse include a dynamic workplace. Nurses can work in hospitals, schools and other public institutions. Whatever the platform, nurses enjoy an exciting and fast-paced lifestyle as they get to handle different cases everyday and come into contact with different patients which makes their job very interesting. Nursing also has a flexible scheduling system that can allow a nurse to select the shifts to work (Whitehead et al, 2008). Shortcomings of the nursing profession At the international level, nurses are in shortage in most public and private hospitals. The major cause for this shortage is the pitiable working conditions that nurses work in. In a recent review of the empirical human factors and ergonomic literature specific to nursing performance, nurses were found to work in generally poor environmental conditions. Individually, nurses do more work than doctors do as they oversee all the patients that are admitted, prepare the theaters for doctors and do other administrative work. The working conditions are also difficult in that nurses work under cognitive burdens, perform multiple tasks and encounter many interruptions. The shortage of nurses can cause a burnout among the nurses working all day and night. The physical overload is also difficult in that nurses work long hours and handle many patient requirements. As a result, nurses experience musculo-skeletal disorders, stress and physical strain. In summary, the nursing career system often surpasses the confines and capacities of normal human performance. There are regulations controlling the number of patients that nurses can effectively serve on a daily basis although the law may differ according to the state that has formulated it. Studies have been done to determine whether the training for nurses can make them competent enough to perform the tasks done by physicians who proved that nurses could effectively do these tasks. Such researches reinforce placing a large workload on the nurses within a medical institution (Whitehead et al, 2008). The nursing profession is very rewarding in terms of benefits and other allowances. However, nurses rarely get time off to engage in other personal activities such as recreation, spending time with family or attending to other businesses. Nurses regularly work day and night shifts that may interfere with the family life, create a distance that forms the foundation for conflicts, and ultimately divorce. Depending on the type of nurse, a professional could deal with stressful families who have their patients in hospitals. Certain patients can also cause traumatic experiences for nurses that may interfere with their competence and skill (Lucia et al, 2009). Conclusion Nursing involves taking care of the health issues within society. Their work is slightly different from other health care providers in that role is limited to preparing patients for doctors, preparing treatments for patients and administering other required tasks in the hospitals. The current trend within most universities and colleges has however opened up other avenues to nurses that could see them practice other forms of medicine on a public and even private basis. The work schedules for nurses are usually packed and become worse during major accidents and calamities. The education requirements for a nurse are also achievable and have the option of further progress to higher qualifications such as masters or doctorate in nursing. Nursing as a career will involve an individual spending a greater part of their lives tending to the physical, mental and other problems. Nursing also involves working under a lot of pressure and odd hours such as night shifts and through holidays. The career is therefore advisable for young energetic people with a passion for making the lives of other people more comfortable and healthy. The traditional perceptions of nursing that are possessed by most people in the medical profession stand in the way of realizing nursing as a complete and lucrative career. One of the top benefits of being a nurse is that clinching a license opens up opportunities to operate in any location in the world. If taken up as a career, nursing can lead to new avenues of practicing medicine among the new generation of scholars. Even though the nursing profession has its benefits that include good compensation and opportunities for growth, there are certain aspects within the profession that raises questions concerning its ability to serve the health needs of the masses. Lecturers in nursing schools duplicate the vague information in textbooks concerning alternative medicine to students and this denies them the opportunity to learn the proper way to solve health complications. Teachers in nursing school support the inclusion of abstract elements in their curriculum such as healing properties of touch’ and the ‘power of the mind to heal. While these abstract aspects may have some truth in them, administering these kinds of treatments to crucial patients is difficult. These schools produce students that have a vague idea of alternative medicines that makes them incompetent when mainstream treatment methods fail.

Shakespeares Macbeth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Shakespeares Macbeth - Essay Example The necessity of keeping social and economic order often restrains stronger ambition for power. Macbeth is destined - through the prophecy of the witches - to become Thane of Cawdor and eventually King. However, Macbeth's conscience makes the distinction that, by achieving this, he will have broken the social order. This dilemma will eventually compel him to extreme deeds in the acquisition of his desire. Lady Macbeth recognizes her husband's elevation in position and prestige and has no doubt that he will fulfill the witches prophecy with a little help from herself. As she says after reading her husband's letter, " yet do I fear thy nature; / It is too full o' the milk of human kindness / To catch the nearest way" (1.5.360-362). Lady Macbeth has launched into an analysis of Macbeth's character - how he might restrain his ambition out of loyalty to his King rather than seek the most direct route to the throne. Macbeth lacks the internal strength and deviousness a powerful man must ha ve in order to rise to king. His desire is infinite, his ambition excessive, yet his respect for social structure prevents him from committing to the murder of the king. In accusing him of being "too full o' the milk of human kindness," Lady Macbeth is observing a timidity that un-weaned from the hand that raised him - he is not man enough to act aggressively.

Tourism in the Republic of Cyprus Research Paper

Tourism in the Republic of Cyprus - Research Paper Example This leads to one thing; sustainable tourism. Sustainable tourism is defined to as the move towards making less impact on the environment and culture in a given country while at the same time benefiting economically from it. The main objective is to develop tourism to the point where can continually have a great experience from the sector (Trejos & Chiang, 2009). Different countries have varied policies towards sustainability in tourism. The height of the problems coming from tourism guides policy making in every country. In this paper, we take the case study of Cyprus and the policies that they have adopted towards sustainability in tourism. Cyprus continues to experience growth in the number of tourists visiting the region every year (Gunn & Var, 2002). Its impeccable sites and beauty has made it experience an exponential growth to the number of tourists visiting the region every year. For example in the year 1975, they had close to 47000 thousands of tourists visiting the region. This number is nothing comparable to the 2.25 million tourists visiting the region in the year 2000 (Gunn & Var, 2002). The number has continued to grow in the recent decade, raising environmental concerns. While one can not dispute the economic benefits of such a growth, mass tourism has taken a toll on the environment in Cyprus. For example, in the year 1988, the income from the tourism sector estimated at 880 dollars. Today, the sector accounts for 20% of the overall income in the country (Gunn & Var, 2002). Features such as resorts for various groups, water parks with dolphins gracing them and archeological sites attract millions of people all over the world. The enormous numbers of people have had an impact on both on the culture of the people and the environment as a whole. For one, the noise from the tourists has been unbearable

Romeo and Juliet’s Love Essay Example for Free

Romeo and Juliet’s Love Essay Romeo and Juliet’s love is not true love. Although they have sworn their love and gotten married, they do not truly love each other. They are too young to know if they really love someone. Although Lady Capulet was already a mother at Juliet’s age, Juliet is not old enough to know what love feels like. Capulet even says to Paris that Juliet is too young to get married. â€Å"My child is yet a stranger in the world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. Let two more summers wither in their pride ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.† Capulet says here that not until she is sixteen will Juliet be ready to get married. But Juliet thinks she has fallen in love and married Romeo before she is even fourteen. Next, Romeo is also too young. Romeo is not really in love with Juliet, he is in love with being in love. Before the party in act 1 scene 5, Romeo seems to be in love with Rosaline. However he immediately forgets about Rosaline when he talks with Juliet. This shows that he is not old enough to love someone. He has not matured enough, which is yet another reason why Romeo and Juliet are not truly in love. Juliet has not matured enough to get married because she has never been in any kind of a relationship. You cannot love someone if do not know what it feels like. So, if you married the first person you had a relationship with then you could not know if there was someone else who would love even more. Capulet wants Juliet to, somewhat, see who else is out there before marrying Paris. On the other hand, it seems as if Romeo has been in a relationship before. But the problem with Romeo is that he has been in too many relationships. Romeo is in love with being in love, and loves to feel like â€Å"woe is me.† When Romeo gets turned down by Rosaline, he says that he could never love someone as much as he loved her. â€Å"Thou canst not teach me to forget.† Romeo is saying that he cannot forget his love for Rosaline. This tells us that he did not truly love Rosaline, and that he probably does not truly love Juliet. Lastly, Romeo and Juliet do not truly love each other because they have not known each other long enough. They have only known each other for one day and they have already gotten married. That is not nearly enough time for someone to get to know and love another person. Just an hour after the party they had sworn their love to each other. They are not in love, they simply like each other. They were not ready to get married at the time that they did and they still are not in love even after they got married. So, Romeo and Juliet are not really in love. They are too young and immature to be in love with each other. Also, they have not known each other long enough to be in love, they moved too quickly. In conclusion, Romeo and Juliet’s love is not true love.

methods of persuasion Essay -- essays research papers

Methods of Persuasion When one thinks of government controversy, you cannot help but think of the United States. This issue is usually about how the government deals with one’s rights. Throughout history there have been many that have struggled for freedom against our so-called controversial government. Three writers each had their own specific experience with this government. Although each of these arguments relies on different methods of persuasion, Henry Thoreau, Virginia Wolf, and Fredrick Douglas all suggested that there is definitely something wrong with the United States’ system of government. The following essay will address these author’s arguments and discuss how the role of each writers’ methods of persuasion played an important role in convincing the readers as well as getting their attention. After spending a night in jail Henry Thoreau talked about the problem with the government and how they dealt with rights. The reason he was put in jail was because he refused to pay taxes that he believed was being spent on the Mexican War. Throughout the text he shows how much he disliked the way government was going. Thoreau had a strong belief that the system was going the wrong way and the only way to put it back on track was to rebel against the rules, just as he had. He wrote that in order to make the changes we must take chances and make sacrifices even if it landed us in jail. Thoreau uses a monologue as his method to persuade the readers. The main goal in his writi...

Impressions †art Essay

The ballet paintings of Degas featured women in a variety of intimate moments, so to speak. It is at this point that after trying out a variety of techniques, mediums and themes that his work takes on a completely Impressionist image. Paintings done during his early years turn out to have little resemblance in terms of style and composition to the artwork he did later on. Nevertheless, certain features of Degas’ painting methods remained the same regardless of the many modifications and adaptations to this styles and mediums. For one, he always painted indoors. This remains in effect a testament to his derision at the en plein air technique of the Impressionists; he would always prefer to work in his studio instead, relying on memory or live models for his paintings. This was what he did during some of his paintings on dancers, where he would get a female ballet dancer to act as a live model in his studio. His subject too, remained the primary focus, and the landscapes and background were simply reproduced from memory or created from his imagination. In general, one can say that aspects of Degas’ work carry an element of sensuality, perhaps even hyper-sensuality, in them especially during the paintings of the nudes. It is crucial to know that understanding this is important to be able to successfully analyze, comprehend and appreciate his other works. A blatant example of one of Degas’ works that has clear elements of sensuality is Four Dancers. In this painting, Degas arouses a variety of sensual responses based on the primary visual image, to the eroticism exhibited by the female models. Degas did not only reveal his artistic and personal introversion through linear revelation but also through the use of color and light. The dancers stand in muted quite with earth tones while their outfits have small hints of brilliant color with blue or pink sashes. The stiff form of the skirt while a dancer is standing still and straight as can be witnessed in Four Dancers in the forefront dancer’s position is easily transformed into a fluid myriad of colors whenever a dancer takes movement and Degas reveals an asymmetry with color, line, and the imbalance of the two. Theatre Peter Shaffer’s play Amadeus is in summary about the ‘feckless’ artistic genius of Mozart pitted against the mediocrity of Antonio Salieri whose jealousy over Mozart’s success in the play lends itself to murder. The play was an in depth exploration of Mozart as a man and not just as a genius composer; the director Kent Thompson brought Mozart’s humanity to the stage as well as accurately portraying the script composed by Shaffer. The elements of fear in failure and ebullience in joy were the true rivals in the play, and the way in which the audience relates to these characters was extraordinary. The magic, as it were, of the play was the way in which both Shaffer’s ideas and Kent’s ideas bred a new life into the classical artist Mozart; he was not only a composer by the end of the play but the audience was so engrossed in his life that he became a person to them, relatable with his life, his marriage, his children and his music. The play by Shaffer introduced to audiences a psychological background that was highlighted in Kent’s portrayal by lighting and theme background. The stages were generally a dark atmosphere which juxtaposed Mozart’s own emotional allegiance to failure, but also the lights were introduced in brilliant colors when Mozart’s psyche was enjoying a brief happiness. Kent made the lighting a major part of Shaffer’s script. Kent did a lot of spotlighting, or mood lighting in which only a few characters on stage were illuminated to show their importance. The corners and niches of darkness were the psychological equivalent to the turmoil that Mozart was going through not only in his composition powers, but also in his relationship with his mother, his wife, his rival, himself. Therefore, it was not just the use of lighting but the introduction of shadow that enabled Kent to deftly portray Mozart’s emotional being. Also, Kent incorporated into the design of the show six luxury pendant lamps above the audience members. This allowed the action and the scenery of the stage to overlap the audience so that the actions on stage would be more realistic since the audience was almost part of the play with the same scenery above their head. When the pendant lamps turned on during a palace scene or a scene calling for luxury the audience members were being incorporated into the play by the extension of the stage design into the seats. This is not the only technique Kent used in allowing the audience to become part of the actions on the stage. The way that Shaffer wrote the script, in plot, Salieri is in a wheelchair, and the action is taking place 32 years after Mozart’s, ‘assassination’. Salieri lets out a very penitent dialogue in which he asks the audience to be his confessors. In this action, both Kent and Shaffer are introducing that the suspension of disbelief does not exist at the proscenium, but at the entrance to the audience since the audience itself is asked to become characters, or confessors in the play. The life of the play, the essence that Shaffer had imagined it to be, was aptly give in Kent’s direction. The actors, the plots, the dialogue all gave Amadeus the possession of a reality given in psychological torpor by Salieri and Mozart. Not only was the costume impeccable in portraying 1781, but the props themselves gave the play an extra touch of reality in their presence on stage. The sound in the background, the classical music notes, the rendition of specific Mozart pieces added to the ambiance of the play and the inclusion of the audience members into the action on stage. The lighting however was one element that was very unique in its rendition and aided in the audience’s understanding about characters, setting, and their own inclusion in the play. The lighting was a major part of the success of the play, not only its highlighting of certain characters but in the use of shadow as well; there was a very chiaroscuro effect that Kent employed, that worked for the extra drama of the Amadeus. Dance Gina Pane was able to transform performance art to be inclusive of pain as a gateway of understanding life, and for the audience to understanding of that pain was exhibited through art. Gina Pane would, during her performances, burn her limbs and slice herself with sharp razors. During multiple performances she would take her own blood and outline her physiognomy on the plane of a mirror, at which she was peering. She would take blood from her sliced open eyelids and trace her face in the glass. By performing in this fashion Gina Pane was able to visually and metaphorically re-engineer the product of artistry in her shedding of her own blood which in turn become a dichotomy of both process and product (Hewitt 1997; 103). Thus, not only was the performance geared toward the audience but the act of bloodshed was art, thereby attributing self-mutilation as a genre in performance art. Often times this sacrifice of the performer’s blood is equated with Christ’s sacrifice for redemption of humankind, thus, the performer is acting out self-mutilation thereby cleansing the audience of their sin (Hewitt 1997; 104). The artist is using this pain and sacrifice for the importance of self expression. Gina Pane utilized this masochism in order to save the audience from the din of inexcusable art and thus she saw herself as a scapegoat that eventually rescued the audience from the cultural retardation of art from the perspective of art being disembodied and mundane because of its equaliency of being inhuman or at least no longer defined through human qualities. Gina Pane’s onstage sacrifices were a tribute to her faith in that art was not only for expression but salvation. She believed in the body, and had faith in that art through masochism was a way in which she could associate herself as an artist through recognition of the human as blood and in this was found a truth she wanted to relay to the audience (Hewitt 1997; 104). Art should not be devoid of human life and experiences and thus Gina Pane placed much importance on her shedding of blood as performance. Pane perceived the body as a vehicle, a tool of expression through pathological masochism. Thus, when Pane includes these self-mutilation acts in her work she is making a succinct statement to the audience not only of sacrifice and redemption but also in an egotistical fashion she is stating that her arms are hers to do with what she pleases. If she wants her arms to be scarred then that is how they will be and this message is delivered to the audience as control. Gina Pane’s performances are about control of the body. Music. Gangsta rap originated from the blues as well as poetry since rap in essence is poetry put to a beat just as most African American music derives itself in some form from the Deep South’s work music, so does gangsta rap originate from the hardship of the rappers’ lives, and they lived, where they lived and how they survived which is all put into the lyrics of the gangsta rap song. In gangsta rap, it is with the Blues that it is attributed to adhering to, and it is with the Blues that the cadence and lyrics gangsta rap can be found with regard to the artist and how they wrote blues as a new age rhythm in rap. In the following essay, cultural, economic, and social factors will be explored as to their impact on gangsta rap and the artist. The lyrics and the artist will be compared and contrasted and the difference between the two, will be the focus of the following pages. Also, in the music production, business will be considered, and the aesthetic aspect of production will be examined, both monetarily, and otherwise. Gangsta rap takes its cue from the Blues. The gangsta rap artist illustrates life in the hood; thus they lyrics do not propagate the problem but merely report about the problem. In this fashion gangsta rap artists are more like journalists instead of musicians as most of their lyrics are fueled from poverty stricken lives, doing drugs or selling drugs just to make money or seeing their family and friends to the same thing. All of these issues are written into the gangsta rap lyrics. As mentioned prior, the Blues was a musical form founded in the Deep South, both rooted in spirituals, and labor (Gospel Music Association). The Blues became more sophisticated as the music, and musicians moved from rural landscape to cityscape. It was within the urban environment that the Blues found its voice (Dean, 1998), as it is true that gangsta rap found its voice in the over urbanization of a culture. One of the central figureheads of gangsta rap is Tupac. His blues mixed with voice, lyrics, and the slow acceptance of depression and love in his song are reminiscent of blues, but his strict adherence to the lyrics and the politics in the lyrics made him the transcendental leader of gangsta rap. Gangsta rap is a genre of hip hop which also is heavily influenced by politics. The focus of gangsta rap and the artist was one concerned with inner-city living or ‘da hood’. Thus, the attention to gangs and gang members as part of the lyrics of gangsta rap become synonymous with this type of policy; chaos. Crime and violence are a large part of the lyrical side of gangsta rap because of its origins in the city. The artist writes what they know and it is with lyricists such as Ice-T, and 2Pac that the illusion of the nuclear family was put to waste and the creation or rather recognition of America’s streets was brought to the forefront of society. Gangsta rap is known as a realistic sound, typically associated with the angst filled lyrics of the rising rock and roll sound emerging at the same time with hip hop. Due to the eclectic influence of gangsta rap, the sound was much misinterpreted, or hard to pinpoint as a genre, and thus the inclusion of the advocacy of drugs was initiated into this musical genre. This however is not the case. Gangsta rap is anything is a narrative, and as a narrative the lyrics reflect what the artist is living or already seeing. The artist then becomes a surrogate for the rest of society in understanding life on the street and the real America. Work Cited Hewitt, Kim. Mutilating the Body: Identity in Blood and Ink. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. 1997.

Home Treatment for Jellyfish and Man of War Stings

You can apply common household chemistry to treat jellyfish and Portuguese man-of-war stings. Heres a look at how to tell these marine animals apart and how the chemistry of treating the stings differs, depending on what stung you. Key Takeaways: Jellyfish and Portuguese Man-of-War Stings A jellyfish can sting you even if its dead.Vinegar, ammonia, meat tenderizer, or heat can inactivate the toxin in jellyfish venom. However, if there is a risk a sting is from a Portuguese man-of-war, using a chemical can cause all of the stinging cells to fire at once and worsen the injury.Another method of treating a sting is to lift off the tentacle (using a credit card or seashell) and rinse the area with water.An antihistamine can help reduce allergic responses. Hydrocortisone can relieve inflammation. An over-the-counter pain reliever can help reduce pain. Dont Make the Sting Worse Do you know what to do if you or someone youre with finds a jellyfish or is stung by one? You should know the answer to these questions before you go to the beach, since an encounter with a jellyfish can be a painful or possibly lethal experience. As a matter of practical chemistry, your biggest risk from a jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-war sting may come from improper first aid intended to deal with the venom. What Should You Do If You See a Jellyfish? Best Answer: Leave it alone. If its in the water, get away from it. If its on the beach and you need to walk around it, walk above it (on the dune side) rather than below it (surfside), since it may be trailing tentacles. Keep in mind a jellyfish does not need to be alive in order to sting you. Detached tentacles are capable of stinging and releasing venom for several weeks. Other Answer: It depends on what kind of jellyfish it is. We realize if it looks like floating jelly, its considered a jellyfish, but there are different types of jellyfish and animals that look like jellyfish but are something else entirely. Not all jellyfish can hurt you. Some jellyfish are either nonvenomous or else their stinging cells cant penetrate your skin. What do you do when you see one of these? If you are a kid, youll probably pick it up and throw it at another kid (unless its alive, then be kind and let it be). Most parts of the world have nonvenomous jellyfish. They tend to be easy to spot. The ones you dont see present the biggest threat. Many jellyfish are transparent (but glow under a black light). You probably wont see them in the water, so if you are stung, you wont know exactly what got you. If you see a jellyfish and dont know what type it is, treat it like a venomous species and get away from it. How Do I Treat a Jellyfish Sting? Answer: If you know the victim is allergic to insect stings, seek medical attention immediately. People who are allergic to bees and wasps may experience a dangerous allergic reaction to a jellyfish sting. Otherwise, act quickly and calmly to remove the tentacles, stop the stinging, and deactivate any toxin. Here is where people get confused because the best steps to take depend on what type of animal caused the sting. Use these good basic strategies, especially if you dont know what caused the sting: Get out of the water. Its easier to deal with the sting on land, and it also takes drowning out of the equation.Rinse the affected area with seawater. Do not use freshwater. Freshwater will cause any stinging cells that havent fired (called nematocysts) to do so and release their venom, possibly worsening the situation. Do not rub sand on the area for the same reason.If you see any tentacles, carefully lift them off the skin and remove them with a stick, shell, credit card, or towel (just not your bare hand). They will stick to swimwear, so use caution touching clothing.Keep an eye on the victim. If you see any signs of an allergic reaction, call 911 immediately. Symptoms could include difficulty breathing, nausea, or dizziness. Some redness and swelling is normal, but if it spreads outward from the sting or if you see hives on other parts of the body, that could indicate an allergic response. If you suspect a reaction, do not hesitate to seek medical attention.Now, if you are sure t he sting is from a jellyfish and not a Portuguese man-of-war (not a true jellyfish) or any other animal, you can use chemistry to your advantage to inactivate the toxin, which is a protein. (Technically, the venom tends to be a mixture of polypeptides and proteins including catecholamines, histamine, hyaluronidase, fibrinolysin, kinins, phospholipases, and assorted toxins). How do you inactivate proteins? You can change the temperature or acidity by applying heat or an acid or base, such as vinegar or baking soda or diluted ammonia, or even an enzyme, such as the papain found in papaya and meat tenderizer. However, chemicals may cause the stinging cells to fire, which is bad news for someone allergic to jellyfish toxin or anyone stung by a Portuguese man-of-war. If you do not know what caused the sting, or if you suspect it is from a Portuguese man-of-war, do not apply freshwater or any chemical. Your best course of action is to apply heat to the affected area since it penetrates th e skin and inactivates the toxin without causing more venom to be injected. Also, heat quickly helps alleviate the pain of the sting. Hot seawater is great, but if you dont have that handy, use any warmed object.Some people carry aloe vera gel, Benadryl (diphenhydramine) cream, or hydrocortisone cream. Were not sure how effective the aloe is, but Benadryl is an antihistamine, which may help limit an allergic response to the sting. Hydrocortisone can help reduce inflammation. If you seek medical attention and used Benadryl or hydrocortisone, be sure to alert the medical professionals. Acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen are commonly used to relieve pain.