March 2015 Vol. 10 No. 3 Archives

March 2015 Vol. 10 No. 3

A case study of a managers’ workshop

March 12, 2015

To apply for Magnet® recognition, a healthcare organization must describe and demonstrate how its nursing leaders promote and develop nursing cultures that support implementation of structures and processes…

Associate degree nurses shifting to long-term care

March 5, 2015

According to a study in Nursing Economics, many nurses with associate degrees who would have otherwise been employed in hospitals seem to have shifted to long-term care settings.…

Bariatric surgery safe option for pediatric population

March 5, 2015

Bariatric surgery doesn’t stunt the growth of obese children and adolescents when applied within a clinical pathway and is a safe option for those unable to loss weight…

Connecting the dots leads to suspicion of sepsis

March 12, 2015

Maria Espinoza, age 45, is recovering on the medical-surgical unit 2 days after a decompression fasciotomy for compartment syndrome of her right thigh, following a quadriceps muscle tear…

Enough already! Let’s start using ANA’s CAUTI tool—now

March 12, 2015

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being bombarded with data, tools, and promotions claiming these things will help me become a better nurse leader.…

FDA approves CPR devices

March 12, 2015

On March 9 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the ResQCPR System, a system of two devices for first responders to use while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation…

FDA approves first therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma

March 12, 2015

On March 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Unituxin (dinutuximab) as part of first-line therapy for pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. Read more.

FDA approves new treatment for rare bile acid synthesis disorders

March 26, 2015

On March 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cholbam (cholic acid) capsules, the first FDA-approved treatment for pediatric and adult patients with bile acid synthesis…

FDA launches drug shortages app

March 5, 2015

On March 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a free mobile app that identifies current drug shortages, resolved shortages, and discontinuations of drug products. Read…

FDA releases guidance on reprocessing reusable medical devices

March 19, 2015

On March 12, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released guidance that includes recommendations medical device manufacturers should follow for the safe and effective use of reprocessed…

From your ANA President

March 12, 2015

As a new staff nurse, I worked mostly nights and went to school during the day to complete my bachelor’s degree. One day I nodded off while driving…

How Project LeaRN promotes lifelong learning

March 12, 2015

The Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” made recommendations to help nurses overcome barriers that prevent them from responding effectively to…

How to avoid biased thinking

March 12, 2015

Jessica, a Millennial (Generation Y) nurse working on a medical-surgical unit, recently completed her first year of practice. Ralph, her manager, is pleased with her transition and believes…

Improving posthospital medication management for chronically ill older adults

March 12, 2015

For chronically ill older adults who take multiple medications, a hospital stay can result in various medication-related changes. Nurses administer their medications to them. Their medication schedules may…

Issues up close

March 12, 2015

For many nurses today, the workplace may feel like uncharted territory. New technologies, bold advances in health care, and a growing urgency to collaborate and innovate are changing…

Leadership insights

March 12, 2015

The chief nursing officer (CNO) of a hospital or other healthcare organization has extensive responsibilities, ranging from patient care at the bedside to key strategic business discussions in…

Letter to the Editor – What nurses owe one another

April 16, 2015

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to Curtin’s article titled “What nurses owe one another”, published in Volume 10, Issue 3 of the March 2015 edition of…

Letter to the Editor: A case study of a managers’ workshop

May 12, 2015

Dear Editor: In response to “A case study of a managers’ workshop” March 2015 issue. I currently work as staff nurse and for the past 9 years I…

Nursing practice and work environment

March 12, 2015

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 18% of Americans smoke cigarettes and more than half of these smokers want to quit. Further, CDC reports…

Pediatric tracheostomy care: What home care nurses need to know

March 12, 2015

Children with tracheostomy tubes can benefit from home care but require specialized nursing to prevent complications and emergencies. The artificial airway increases risk, especially in children with upper…

Radial approach safer than femoral for coronary angiogram

March 26, 2015

Patients undergoing coronary angiography have a significantly lower risk of major bleeding and mortality if the procedure is performed by using the radial, instead of the femoral, approach,…

RDA for vitamin D may be too low

March 19, 2015

According to researchers, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin D, from the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, is underestimated by a factor of 10. Read…

Reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections in children

March 12, 2015

Affecting every patient population, central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) increase morbidity and mortality. Although much has been published on adult CLABSIs, information on pediatric CLABSIs has lagged. In…

Room with a view: Clutter included?

March 12, 2015

Your “new” room is now ready—hospital room, that is. Architects are finally designing and redesigning hospital rooms that could match the suites at your local Marriott, with the…

Setting your sights on aging eyes

March 12, 2015

Half of Americans older than 65 have some degree of age-related cataract formation, making cataracts the leading cause of vision impairment in the United States. As a nurse,…

Sustaining shared decision making: A biennial task force process

March 12, 2015

Many hospitals have instituted formal shared decision making (SDM) or shared governance to promote excellence in nursing practice. SDM is an important element in hospitals with Magnet® recognition. Bringing…

The wide world of travel nursing: Islands, cruise ships, and foreign countries

March 12, 2015

In my earlier article on travel nursing (“Travel nursing, anyone?”, November 2014), I described some of the traits and qualifications travel nurses should possess. In this article, we’ll…

Using oral care to prevent nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia

March 12, 2015

May Grossman, age 57, is admitted for elective surgery to reverse a colostomy from a previous surgical procedure. Her health has been good except for occasional diverticulitis bouts.…

What nurses owe one another

March 12, 2015

With all the concern about ethics today, little attention is paid to the way healthcare professionals treat one another. Nonetheless, the ethics of a profession delimit the role…