November 2011 Vol. 6 No. 11 Archives

November 2011 Vol. 6 No. 11

Adding NP to inpatient surgical team can reduce emergency department visits

November 11, 2011

A study published in Surgery found that adding a nurse practitioner (NP) to an inpatient surgical team reduced unnecessary emergency department visits by 50%. Read more.

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ANA launches Healthy Nurse program

November 11, 2011

Registered nurses educate patients and the public on good health and wellness practices. But many times, nurses themselves are unable to take their own advice due to exposure…

ANA offers even more ways to be engaged online

November 11, 2011

ANA has launched the Boundless Voices action site for Facebook, which integrates ANA’s online advocacy tools with Facebook’s social network.

Awash in “bath salts”: The dangers and skyrocketing use of mephedrone

November 11, 2011

Banned in September, this designer stimulant can cause dangerous side effects and death.

Benzocaine puts a patient in a bind

November 11, 2011

Methemoglobinemia from benzocaine exposure causes tissue hypoxia.

Detecting and screening for depression in older adults

November 11, 2011

Don’t assume depression is a normal finding in elderly patients.

ECRI names top 10 health technology hazards for 2012

November 11, 2011

ECRI Institute’s top 10 health technology hazards for 2012 include alarm hazards, medication errors when using infusion pumps, enteral feeding misconnections, and cross-contamination from flexible endoscopes. Access the…

Emergency nursing: A specialty unlike any other

November 11, 2011

The president of the Emergency Nurses Association tells why she’s proud to be an emergency nurse.

FDA approves first drug for myelofibrosis

November 11, 2011

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Jakafi (ruxolitinb), the first drug approved to treat patients with the bone marrow disease myelofibrosis. Read more.

FDA approves first generic version of Lipitor

November 11, 2011

The U.S. Food and Drug administration has approved the first generic version of Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium). Read more.

FDA launches new website on safe disposal of ‘sharps’

November 11, 2011

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has launched a new website for patients and caregivers on the safe disposal of needles and other “sharps” that are used at…

From Your ANA President

November 11, 2011

ANA promotes nursing research through its National Center for Nursing Quality, the American Nurses Foundation, and integration of research into practice and policy.

How working nights can work in your favor

November 11, 2011

Shortly after I completed my master’s degree in nursing, I spoke with my nurse mentor about my career decisions. At the time, I was working as a night-shift…

Improving outcomes in med-surg patients with opioid-induced respiratory depression

November 11, 2011

Myth debunking and better recognition of respiratory compromise can help prevent deaths.

Never fear—the critical-care resource nurse is here

November 11, 2011

Creating a critical-care resource nurse role has helped one hospital ensure that critically ill patients get the same level of care no matter where they’re admitted.

Nonfatal occupational injuries among healthcare workers increase

November 11, 2011

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the incidence rate for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work in 2010 for…

Quantum ethics: Coming to grips with the dark side

November 11, 2011

Nurses have an ethical duty to address the web of relationships, expectations, and egocentrism that influences them.

RNs stay close to home after graduation

November 11, 2011

More than half (52.5%) of newly licensed RNs in 15 states work within 40 miles of where they attended high school according to a study in Health Affairs.…

Rotating night shifts may increase risk of type 2 diabetes

November 11, 2011

Female nurses who rotated night shifts (at least three night/month in addition to days and evenings in that month) had a “modestly increased” risk of type 2 diabetes…

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Strategies for a successful semester

November 11, 2011

These trying economic times provide opportunities for career changes. Perhaps you’re returning to college for your first degree or to obtain an additional one. Whether you’re studying for…

The evolving role of the forensic nurse

November 11, 2011

Even if they’re not portrayed on the TV shows "CSI" or "Law & Order: SVU," forensic nurses are pivotal in real-life forensic cases. Catch up on the dynamic,…

The practice of ethics

October 11, 2011

More nurses skilled in ethics are needed to help nurses cope with on-the-job ethical dilemmas.

The quality nexus: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

November 11, 2011

In April, Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM, became the fourth National Coordinator of Health Information Technology within the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) at…

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Tips for applying to an advanced-degree nursing program

November 11, 2011

When you compete for a seat in an advanced-degree program, your application can spell the difference between acceptance and rejection. Careful preparation, attention to detail, and the ability…

Transforming care through health information technology

November 11, 2011

Editor-in-Chief Pam Cipriano interviews the nation’s health IT "czar" on nurses’ role in transforming health care through the electronic health record.

Trust in the workplace: Build it, break it, mend it

November 11, 2011

The authors reveal how to rate trust levels and betrayal risk on your unit—and what to do if you breach a colleague’s trust.

Women report more negative emotional impact from diabetes than men

November 11, 2011

A survey from Rite Aid and WebMD found that compared to men, women report that diabetes had a greater negative impact on their emotional outlook and adherence to…