March 2013 Vol. 8 No. 3 Archives

March 2013 Vol. 8 No. 3

An algorithm to help you manage your stress

March 11, 2013

Nurses face tremendous stress in their daily practice. Various environmental and personal factors can exacerbate or mitigate stress. High stress levels impair cognitive and psychomotor functioning, leading to…

Astute assessment saves a patient with PE

March 11, 2013

A nurse responds quickly to the patient’s distress.

Building a sense of community on nursing units

March 11, 2013

Jeff Rawson, a new nurse graduate, works on a behavioral health unit. His manager believes his transition is going well—until Jeff asks to transfer to another unit. When…

Cesarean section rates vary widely in United States

March 11, 2013

A study in Health Affairs found that cesarean rates vary tenfold across hospitals, from 7.1% to 69.9%. “Cesarean delivery rates vary tenfold among US hospitals; reducing variation may…

Despite efforts C. difficile remains significant problem in hospitals

March 11, 2013

According to “2013 Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) Pace of Progress Survey: Results of an online poll of infection preventionists,” 70% of respondents have adopted additional interventions to address…

FDA announces recall of drug products from Med Prep Consulting

March 11, 2013

On March 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary nationwide recall of all lots of all products produced by Med Prep Consulting Inc. of…

FDA approves new multiple sclerosis drug

March 11, 2013

On March 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) capsules to treat adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Read more.

FDA encourages prescribers to seek education on prescribing opioid pain meds

March 11, 2013

On March 1, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is joining health professional organizations in encouraging prescribers to seek education to safely prescribe…

From your ANA President

March 11, 2013

Helping nurses strengthen their delegation skills

Headlines from the Hill

March 11, 2013

The 113th Congress’ to-do list

Health, safety, & wellness

March 11, 2013

Nursing is a rewarding profession based on caring, giving, helping, and educating. It involves caring for others, from beautiful newborns to pain-wracked hospice patients. It involves giving of…

Hospital nurse staffing for dummies

March 11, 2013

Perhaps we should turn our staffing data into a manual for hospital administrators.

Hospital volume associated with better survival in patients with head and neck cancer

March 11, 2013

“Hospital volume is associated with survival but not multimodality therapy in Medicare patients with advanced head and neck cancer,” published in Cancer, found that Medicare patients with advanced…

How to identify atrioventricular blocks

March 11, 2013

These arrhythmias can be tricky to interpret on a rhythm strip. The author guides you through the basics.

Implementing bedside shift report

March 11, 2013

Implementing bedside shift report improved communication with patients and families.

Interprofessional education promotes collaboration

March 11, 2013

A program for health profession students nurtures teamwork in a hospital setting.

Issues up close

March 11, 2013

As the health economist for the American Nurses Association (ANA), I’ve been asked, “What will 2013 bring for RNs? Maybe even beyond 2013?” (more…)

Magnet Recognition Program®: Facts and FAQs

March 11, 2013

Get up-to-date on the Magnet Recognition Program®.

March 2013 e-Edition

March 11, 2013

Click here to access the digital edition

Quantifying the benefits of staff participation in shared governance

March 11, 2013

Organizations can save money and avoid costs by involving staff in the work of shared governance.

Quantum leadership: Upside down

March 11, 2013

Human beings are intentionally directed energy. Leadership offers direction and purpose to that intentionality.

Questioning common nursing practices: What does the evidence show?

March 11, 2013

To improve patient outcomes, nurses need to challenge practice traditions.

RAC audits continue to increase

March 11, 2013

A new report from the American Hospital Association says recovery and contractor (RAC) audits continue to increase. Of the 1,233 hospitals that responded to the survey, nearly 60,000…

Readers Respond

March 11, 2013

Correction The January 2013 article “Helping patients survive sepsis” mistakenly listed “respiratory rate slower than 20 breaths/minute” as one of the diagnostic criteria for systemic inflammatory response syndrome…

Ride to the top with a good elevator speech

March 11, 2013

Make sure to have a brief speech prepared for that chance encounter with someone you’ve been hoping to meet.

Study: Fewer work hours for medical residents could have unintended consequences

March 11, 2013

A study in JAMA Internal Medicine comparing schedules of first-year residents found that fewer work hours increased the number of patient handoffs (affecting continuity of care), resulted in…

Study: Shortages of cancer drugs associated with medication errors and higher

March 11, 2013

A study in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy reports a survey of oncology pharmacists in the United States found that shortages of oncology drugs can cause treatment…

What every nurse should know about hemophilia

March 11, 2013

Learn about the causes of this disorder, current treatments, and important nursing considerations.

You can help stop the cycle of teen bullying

March 11, 2013

Bullying refers to repeated negative activity or aggression intended to harm or bother someone that the aggressor perceives as less powerful. In many cases, bullying victims are harassed…