October 2014 Vol. 9 No. 10 Archives

October 2014 Vol. 9 No. 10

Breast cancer care gets personal

October 7, 2014

Learning objectives 1. State how breast cancer is diagnosed and evaluated. 2. Identify the implications of genetics for patients with breast cancer. 3. Discuss targeted therapy for breast…

CDC develops new faster test for enterovirus D68

October 21, 2014

On Oct. 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it has started using a new, faster lab test for detecting enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). This…

CDC provides enterovirus D68 information

October 9, 2014

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dedicated a section of its website to the nationwide outbreak of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) associated with severe respiratory illness.…

Drugs for diabetic neuropathy similarly effective despite cost differences

November 6, 2014

Drugs for managing diabetic neuropathy are similarly effective, yet the costs of these drugs vary greatly, according to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The researchers…

Ebola is here: Knowledge, identification, and appropriate infection control are key

October 10, 2014

Ebola… the word conjures up the thoughts of dark, steamy jungles and grim healthcare providers working feverishly in primitive conditions to battle a deadly—yet geographically isolated—disease. Today, we…

Ebola resources from ANA

October 21, 2014

Access ebola information from the American Nurses Association (ANA) http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/WorkplaceSafety/Healthy-Work-Environment/DPR/Ebola-Information.html.

FDA approves new labeling for Embeda ER capsules

October 23, 2014

On Oct. 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new labeling for Embeda (morphine sulfate and naltrexone hydrochloride) extended-release (ER) capsules, an opioid analgesic to treat…

FDA approves two drugs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

October 21, 2014

On Oct. 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ofev (nintedanib) http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm418994.htm and Esbriet (pirfenidone) for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Read more about nintedanib…

FDA issues recommendations for strengthening cybersecurity of devices

October 9, 2014

On Oct. 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized recommendations to manufacturers for managing cybersecurity risks to better protect patient health and information. Read more.

Healthcare immunization: Protecting coworkers and the community

October 5, 2014

Health care professionals are at high risk for exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases and infections. Safeguard yourself, your patients, and your family members. Make sure you and your patients…

ICU Diary: The Gift of Care™

October 2, 2014

As an ICU nurse you’ve probably encountered the critically ill patient who is experiencing hallucinations, delusions, and confusion. Healthcare providers are learning just how detrimental this state of…

Interdisciplinary rounds in the acute care setting: A powerful tool for student nurses

October 2, 2014

My colleague shook his head skeptically as he said, “I’m not sure the students know what nurses actually do.” The fall semester was coming to a close, which…

Intervention reduces ‘mean girl’ bullying

October 2, 2014

Researchers have developed and tested an intervention that effectively decreases relational aggression (“mean girl” bullying) among teen girls. The intervention, Growing Interpersonal Relationships through Learning and Systemic Supports…

JAK inhibitors effective in stopping tumor growth in some colon cancers

October 2, 2014

Researchers have found that medicines called JAK inhibitors halted tumor growth in patients with colon cancer who had a genetic mutation that is present in more than 80%…

Lead to succeed through generational differences

October 2, 2014

Chelsea enters the unit chewing gum and texting on her new smart phone. Deb stands there, waiting to get report. Minutes pass as Chelsea chuckles and continues to…

New capsule has potential to replace some injections

October 2, 2014

Researchers at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a drug capsule coated with tiny needles that can inject drugs directly into the lining of the stomach after…

Quiz Time

October 2, 2014

A direct-care nurse can help manage clinical variability by: a. mixing different types of patients in the same unit. b. assigning nurses patients with dissimilar diagnoses. c. mixing…

Reaping the unexpected benefits of nursing research

October 2, 2014

The nursing leadership of our ICU and Coronary Care Unit (CCU) realized that the time had come to conduct a true nursing research study. Nursing staff in the…

Science: A universal source of ethics?

October 6, 2014

“It really doesn’t matter whether you are Muslim or Christian or Jew. In every religion, in every country, in every region at every time, there are some basic…

Staggering number of alarms identified

October 23, 2014

A study in PLOS ONE found more than 2.5 million patient monitoring alarms in one month in one hospital. Many were caused by a complex interplay of inappropriate…

Study finds link between vitamin D and prostate cancer

October 23, 2014

Researchers writing in Prostate report that the gene GDF-15, known to be upregulated by Vitamin D, is notably absent in samples of human prostate cancer driven by inflammation…

The Choluteca bridge: What’s wrong with this picture?

October 7, 2014

Have you ever heard of the Choluteca Bridge in Honduras? Designed to withstand even the strongest hurricane, it survived Hurricane Mitch, a category 5 storm that devastated the…

The mouth in the mirror: Assessing your patient’s oral health

October 2, 2014

Approximately half of American adults have periodontal disease—a chronic inflammatory disease affecting gum tissue and supporting teeth. Longstanding untreated periodontal infections are linked to overall health issues. Especially…

The rewarding role of clinical documentation specialist

October 6, 2014

Many organizations now have clinical documentation improvement programs (CDIs) designed to help an organization accurately reflect the quality of patient care, illustrate healthcare services, and make precise reports…

When asthma escalates to an emergency

October 2, 2014

In asthma, airway inflammation leads to airway obstruction, which may be chronic or arise as an acute symptom exacerbation. Asthma signs and symptoms range from mild to severe…

Breast cancer care gets personal

Learning objectives 1. State how breast cancer is diagnosed and evaluated. 2. Identify the implications of genetics for patients with breast cancer. 3. Discuss…

CDC develops new faster test for enterovirus D68

On Oct. 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it has started using a new, faster lab test for detecting…

CDC provides enterovirus D68 information

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dedicated a section of its website to the nationwide outbreak of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) associated…

Drugs for diabetic neuropathy similarly effective despite cost differences

Drugs for managing diabetic neuropathy are similarly effective, yet the costs of these drugs vary greatly, according to a study in the Annals of…

Ebola is here: Knowledge, identification, and appropriate infection control are key

Ebola… the word conjures up the thoughts of dark, steamy jungles and grim healthcare providers working feverishly in primitive conditions to battle a deadly—yet…

Ebola resources from ANA

Access ebola information from the American Nurses Association (ANA) http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/WorkplaceSafety/Healthy-Work-Environment/DPR/Ebola-Information.html.

FDA approves new labeling for Embeda ER capsules

On Oct. 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new labeling for Embeda (morphine sulfate and naltrexone hydrochloride) extended-release (ER) capsules, an…

FDA approves two drugs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

FDA issues recommendations for strengthening cybersecurity of devices

On Oct. 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized recommendations to manufacturers for managing cybersecurity risks to better protect patient health and…

Healthcare immunization: Protecting coworkers and the community

Health care professionals are at high risk for exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases and infections. Safeguard yourself, your patients, and your family members. Make sure…

ICU Diary: The Gift of Care™

As an ICU nurse you’ve probably encountered the critically ill patient who is experiencing hallucinations, delusions, and confusion. Healthcare providers are learning just how…

Interdisciplinary rounds in the acute care setting: A powerful tool for student nurses

My colleague shook his head skeptically as he said, “I’m not sure the students know what nurses actually do.” The fall semester was coming…

Intervention reduces ‘mean girl’ bullying

JAK inhibitors effective in stopping tumor growth in some colon cancers

Researchers have found that medicines called JAK inhibitors halted tumor growth in patients with colon cancer who had a genetic mutation that is present…

Lead to succeed through generational differences

Chelsea enters the unit chewing gum and texting on her new smart phone. Deb stands there, waiting to get report. Minutes pass as Chelsea…

New capsule has potential to replace some injections

Researchers at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a drug capsule coated with tiny needles that can inject drugs directly into the lining…

Quiz Time

A direct-care nurse can help manage clinical variability by: a. mixing different types of patients in the same unit. b. assigning nurses patients with…

Reaping the unexpected benefits of nursing research

The nursing leadership of our ICU and Coronary Care Unit (CCU) realized that the time had come to conduct a true nursing research study.…

Science: A universal source of ethics?

“It really doesn’t matter whether you are Muslim or Christian or Jew. In every religion, in every country, in every region at every time,…

Staggering number of alarms identified

A study in PLOS ONE found more than 2.5 million patient monitoring alarms in one month in one hospital. Many were caused by a…

Study finds link between vitamin D and prostate cancer

Researchers writing in Prostate report that the gene GDF-15, known to be upregulated by Vitamin D, is notably absent in samples of human prostate…

The Choluteca bridge: What’s wrong with this picture?

Have you ever heard of the Choluteca Bridge in Honduras? Designed to withstand even the strongest hurricane, it survived Hurricane Mitch, a category 5…

The mouth in the mirror: Assessing your patient’s oral health

The rewarding role of clinical documentation specialist

Many organizations now have clinical documentation improvement programs (CDIs) designed to help an organization accurately reflect the quality of patient care, illustrate healthcare services,…

When asthma escalates to an emergency

In asthma, airway inflammation leads to airway obstruction, which may be chronic or arise as an acute symptom exacerbation. Asthma signs and symptoms range…