February 2016 Vol. 11 No. 2 Archives

February 2016 Vol. 11 No. 2

Anxiety more likely in older adults with COPD

February 5, 2016

Generalized anxiety disorder for adults aged 50 and older is three times more likely in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study in COPD: Journal…

Big data: Big roles in big demand for nurses

February 3, 2016

In February 2015, my editorial focused on issues related to big data in nursing. Featured at the ANA Quality Conference that month, it focused on nursing issues we’d…

Children’s hospitals may be getting penalized for factors outside of their control

February 18, 2016

According to a study in JAMA Pediatrics, readmission financial penalties for children’s hospitals may be partly related to patient social determinants of health that are outside the hospital’s…

Coaching patients to better health

January 19, 2016

“How do I know when I’m supposed to get screening tests?” “What do these labs mean and why did my nurse practitioner change my medication?” “What am I…

Combining exercise and meditation eases depression

February 17, 2016

he combination of mediation and aerobic exercise (done twice a week for 2 months) significantly reduced the symptoms of depression in a group of students, according to a…

Cybersecurity and medical devices

February 3, 2016

On Jan. 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance outlining important steps medical device manufacturers should take to address cybersecurity risks to keep…

Does a right to refuse treatment include a right to demand it?

February 3, 2016

According to the dictionary, the word integrity is a noun, and it means either adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty or the state…

EHR hospitals associated with lower adverse events

February 17, 2016

Cardiovascular, pneumonia, and surgery patients in a hospital with a full electronic health record (EHR) are less likely to experience in-hospital adverse events, according to a study in…

FDA announces plans for review of its opioid policies

February 17, 2016

On Feb. 4, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is planning to assess the agency’s approach to opioid medications, in response to the opioid abuse epidemic.…

FDA drug approvals

February 5, 2016

On Jan. 28, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved: Zepatier (elbasvir and grazoprevir) with or without ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1…

FDA releases recommendations to reduce risk of Zika virus blood transmission

February 18, 2016

On Feb. 17, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues recommendations to reduce the risk of transmission of the Zika virus through blood transfusion. The FDA recommends deferral…

Flu vaccine nearly 60% effective

February 25, 2016

On Feb. 24, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported preliminary overall influenza vaccine effectiveness of 59% this season. Read more.

From our readers: A perspective on moral uncertainty and politics

January 19, 2016

Nursing as a profession tends to hold a liberal view of politics and social justice. A strong belief in the autonomy of the professional as well as the…

Guidelines for nutrition in critically ill patients

February 2, 2016

The February issue of the Journal of Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition includes “Guidelines for the Provision and Assessment of Nutrition Support Therapy in the Adult Critically Ill Patient.”…

How to recognize, prevent, and troubleshoot mechanical complications of enteral feeding tubes

February 3, 2016

Feeding tubes are used for various indications in patients with either acute or long-term needs. Critical care, acute care, long-term, and home care nurses provide nutrition and hydration…

JAMA publishes special issue on end-of-life care

February 2, 2016

The January 19 issue of JAMA contains multiple articles related to end-of-life care, including physician-assisted suicide, cost of end-of-life care, and the role of ICUs. Read more

Jude Medical Defibrillation Leads recalled

January 28, 2016

On January 26, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted a recall notice from Jude Medical. The company is recalling its Optisure leads because of possible damage to…

Leading through failure

February 3, 2016

I have served as a nurse corps officer in the United States Air Force for 27 years. One of my most useful leadership lessons came from understanding the…

Marijuana users may be at increased risk of developing alcohol and drug use disorders

February 18, 2016

A study in JAMA Psychiatry reports that marijuana use by adults was associated with increased risk of developing alcohol and drug use disorders, including nicotine dependence, at three…

Newborn positioning, plagiocephaly screening, and parent education

February 3, 2016

Nonsynostotic plagiocephaly is a relatively common craniofacial healthcare concern for pediatric clinicians. Skull asymmetry occurs when an infant’s soft skull becomes flattened in one area, causing a compensatory…

Not just “eating our young”: Workplace bullying strikes experienced nurses, too

February 3, 2016

Even though nursing is a profession of caring and compassion, bullying exists in many forms in it. Bullying threatens teamwork, morale, communication, and, most important, patient safety. The…

Our Readers Respond – Human trafficking

January 28, 2016

The article “Human trafficking: Preparing for a unique patient population” by Cheryl Green in the January 2016 issue of the American Nurse Today was very well done; excellent…

Quiz time – February 2016

February 3, 2016

Which statement about 2,3 DPG is accurate? a. It decreases in the presence of epinephrine. b. It increases as a person ages. c. It forms when red blood…

Recommended vaccines for adults – A quick update for 2016

February 2, 2016

In October 2015, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved the Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule: United States, 2016. This schedule provides a summary of ACIP recommendations for…

Standardized glycemic protocol reduces costs

February 5, 2016

Using a standardized glycemic protocol improves glycemic control and reduces healthcare cost, according to a study in Clinical Nursing Research. Read more.

Strategies for preventing another MI

February 3, 2016

According to the American Heart Association, each year an estimated 635,000 Americans have a new myocardial infarction (MI) and an estimated 300,000 of them have a recurrent attack.…

Update on fluoridation of public drinking water

February 3, 2016

Public drinking water fluoridation is considered one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It…

Viewpoint: Two American nurses visit Cuba’s healthcare system

February 3, 2016

Political relations between Cuba and the United States are rapidly improving. This transformation provides unique opportunities for the exchange of ideas, including ideas related to how health care…

What Works: Development of a teach-back tool and RN resource for transplant patients

February 3, 2016

HealthNurses understand that teaching patients with complex medical problems can be challenging in the hospital setting. Tools can help make teaching more effective. I was part of a…

What you need to know about the 2015 updated CPR guidelines

February 3, 2016

Being able to successfully bring a pulseless individual back to life is one of the more rewarding aspects of healthcare. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has long been the gold…