June 2012 Vol. 7 No. 6 Archives

June 2012 Vol. 7 No. 6

ANA pays it forward

June 11, 2012

I am an organizational junkie with no apologies. As many of you know, I started my political activism in nursing when I served as president of the National…

Article provides guidance for nurses working with patients with vision loss

June 11, 2012

“Focusing your care: Working with clients with vision loss” in the Canadian Nurse provide informative guidance for nurses. Read the article.

Care of clinical trial participants: What nurses need to know

June 11, 2012

The third in a series of articles on clinical trials from nurses at the National Cancer Institute.

Caring for patients in alcohol withdrawal

June 11, 2012

Be sure you’re prepared to care for patients with this condition

Distance education offers a wealth of formats and options

June 11, 2012

An increasing number of students are choosing distance education, over traditional courses.

Early, intensive therapy for type 2 diabetes can slow progression

June 11, 2012

A study of 58 patients with type 2 diabetes found that early and intensive therapy helped preserve beta cell function for 3.5 years. In the study, published in…

Effects of low to moderate alcohol intake during pregnancy examined

June 11, 2012

Preschool children of mothers who consumed low to moderate quantities of alcohol during pregnancy had no difference in test performance compared to mothers who abstained according to a…

FDA approves DNA test to help manage CMV infection in organ transplant patients

June 11, 2012

On July 5, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan CMV Test, a DNA viral load test that helps gauge the progress of anti-viral treatment…

FDA approves Perjeta for late-stage breast cancer

June 11, 2012

On June 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Perjeta (pertuzumab), a new anti-HER2 therapy, to treat patients with HER2-positive late-stage breast cancer. Read more.

From our readers: Overtime is only fun in baseball: A somber look at mandatory overtime and nursing care

June 11, 2012

The author reviews issues surrounding mandatory overtime.

From our readers…What bedside nurses can teach nursing leaders

June 11, 2012

Five years ago, while working in leadership I had a pivotal conversation with my superior regarding the need to “stop thinking like a bedside nurse”. My instincts told…

Improving patient education with Health Failure Mode and Effects Analysis

June 11, 2012

Learn how this tool helped an ICU analyze and correct flaws in its patient-education process

Jump into action against aspiration pneumonia

June 11, 2012

The author covers how to recognize and treat this serious complication.

Nurses at House of Delegates shape ANA’s direction

June 11, 2012

Nurses participating in the American Nurses Association’s House of Delegates (HOD) took action to update and streamline governance of the association to more quickly address pressing issues and…

Protecting children by preventing falls

June 11, 2012

Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury to children outside hospitals and a considerable concern during hospitalization

Putting evidence into practice: Hot flashes

June 11, 2012

The latest in a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society.

Quiz Time

June 11, 2012

Which of the following is an advantage of a dry-suction chest drainage system? a. Lower levels of suction pressure b. Variable bubbling, which indicates proper functioning c. A…

Readers Respond

June 11, 2012

More on civility I have rarely responded with a note to the editor, but just want to thank you for the excellent article in the May issue entitled…

Restraints, patient rights, and the confused patient

June 11, 2012

Author Leah Curtin analyzes the ethics of a case of confusion and restraints.

Resurgence of pertussis in infants and children

June 11, 2012

Learn more about this dangerous disease in children.

Study: Acute care elders unit shortens hospital stay, maintains patients’ functional abilities

June 11, 2012

June’s Health Affairs includes a study of an Acute Care for Elders Unit, which found that length of stay was significantly shorter, inpatient costs were lower, and patients’…

Study: Too much vitamin D harmful

June 11, 2012

A study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that both too little and too much vitamin D can increase mortality. Read more.

SWAT nursing: A unique specialty

June 11, 2012

What does SWAT stand for? So Where Are They? Smart, Witty, and Talented? Smiling, Willing, Able, Technical? (more…)

Tripping over the welcome mat: Why new nurses don’t stay and what the evidence says we can do about it

June 11, 2012

The author discusses this issue and provides strategies for retaining new grads.

Unpacking the pounds that weigh you down

June 11, 2012

How long have you dreamed of losing weight and keeping it off—of what it would feel like to be healthier and have more energy for your nursing job…

USPSTF recommends against hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women to prevent chronic conditions

June 11, 2012

In a draft recommendation statement, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against the use of combined estrogen and progestin for the prevention of chronic conditions in…

When closeness breeds cruelty: Helping victims of intimate partner violence

June 11, 2012

We may not realize it, but most nurses have frequent contact with domestic abuse victims. Shame and fear of reprisal keep many victims from reporting the problem. Caregivers’…

White paper suggests strategies for improving nurse-physician relationships in the ED

June 11, 2012

“Developing & Strengthening Nurse-Physician Relationships: A CEP American White Paper,” released on June 12, details a program to improve nurse-physician relationships in the ED. The program consists of…