September 2012 Vol. 7 No. 9 Archives

September 2012 Vol. 7 No. 9

A new egalitarianism

September 11, 2012

To provide better care and reduce costs, provider groups who’ve rarely considered themselves equals need to collaborate in a new egalitarianism.

A ROADMAP involves patients and families in the plan of care

September 11, 2012

This electronic tool keeps patients and families informed on key aspects of care.

Bring on the heat!

September 11, 2012

Unit nurses take a creative approach to solving a clinical practice problem.

Center for nursing history gets new name

September 11, 2012

The University of Virginia School of Nursing has renamed its nursing history center to ” Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry. ” Bjoring, a nurse and…

Choosing wisely: Resources for selecting sharps safety devices

September 11, 2012

An essential part of a sharps safety program is selecting appropriate devices, such as safety needles. While no one device, feature, or mechanism of action addresses all clinical…

Culture trifecta: Building the infrastructure for Magnet® and just culture

September 11, 2012

At one community hospital, nurses, physicians, and administrators worked together to build the infrastructure for Magnet® and just culture into their organization, aiding their pursuit of healthcare excellence.

Defusing lateral violence and abuse

September 11, 2012

If you’ve been on the receiving end of this behavior, you need to express your needs and set boundaries assertively.

Essential elements of a comprehensive sharps injury-prevention program

September 11, 2012

The steps outlined below can help facilities significantly reduce sharps injuries.

FDA marks 50 years of Kefauver-Harris amendment

September 11, 2012

This year the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is marking the anniversary of the Kefauver-Harris amendment, passed 50 years ago. The legislation gave FDA weight to require…

From Your ANA President

September 11, 2012

HAVING WORKED in an emergency department for more than 20 years, I know what it’s like to have to think fast and move fast to save a life.…

Headlines from the Hill Dollars and…sense?

September 11, 2012

As Congress nears the "fiscal cliff" and the so-called sequester with its across-the-board spending cuts, ANA will continue to advocate for funding of programs important to nurses.

Health, safety, & wellness

September 11, 2012

The hidden dangers of sleep loss

How to keep your communications professional

September 11, 2012

Whether you communicate in person, on the phone, or via voice mail, e-mail, or text message, be sure to use proper etiquette.

Is it syncope—or something worse?

September 11, 2012

Sudden unresponsiveness, pallor, and low blood pressure raise red flags.

Issues up close

September 11, 2012

Foundational documents underscore shared responsibility for staffing

List of Supporting Organizations for Moving the Sharps Safety Agenda Forward in the United States: Consensus Statement and Call to Action

September 11, 2012

Background: The International Healthcare Worker Safety Center (IHWSC) at the University of Virginia drafted and began circulating the consensus statement on sharps safety in the summer of 2011.…

Magnet Recognition Program® update

September 11, 2012

The director of the National Magnet Recognition Program® previews the upcoming conference and reveals other activities at the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Managing glucose levels in hospital patients

September 11, 2012

You’re likely to encounter hospital patients with diabetes. Are you up to date on the latest management guidelines?

More hospital observation units could save $3.1 billion a year

September 11, 2012

“Making Greater Use Of Dedicated Hospital Observation Units For Many Short-Stay Patients Could Save $3.1 Billion A Year,” published in Health Affairs, states that only about a third…

Moving the Sharps Safety Agenda Forward: Consensus Statement and Call to Action

September 11, 2012

Note: This Consensus Statement and Call to Action was drafted by members of the steering committee* for the conference “Tenth Anniversary of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act:…

New report on how mobile devices are transforming health care

September 11, 2012

May’s Issues in Technology Innovation includes the report “How Mobile Devices are Transforming Healthcare,” which includes a review of techniques for managing patients with chronic conditions. Read more.

Nurse practitioners: A vital force in healthcare delivery

September 11, 2012

Confused about role definitions and regulations for nurse practitioners (NP)? This article spells out the facts and brings you up-to-date on developments in—and continued challenges of—the NP role.

Practical strategies to prevent surgical sharps injuries

September 11, 2012

Many facilities still don’t follow sharps safety best practices and continue to underreport needlestick injuries.

Recent advances in cardiac diagnostic and surgical procedures

September 11, 2012

New techniques expand the options for high-risk patients and cause fewer complications than conventional surgery.

Reducing sharps injuries in non-hospital settings

September 11, 2012

No matter how small the facility or agency, all employers are required to take measures that reduce employees’ exposure risks.

Study: Exercise may reduce food craving

September 11, 2012

A study from Brigham Young University found that 45 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise in the morning reduces a person’s motivation for food. The study also found that participants…

Study: Family caregivers provide complex, chronic care

September 11, 2012

“Home Alone: Family Caregivers Providing Complex Chronic Care, ” from AARP and United Hospital Fund, found that almost half (46%) of family caregivers perform medical/surgical tasks for care…

The development of this Special Report has been funded by BD.

September 11, 2012

Please click the PDF icon above to download a PDF of this Supplement. The development of this special report was funded by BD. Content of this special report…

The ethical will: A loving legacy

September 11, 2012

An ethical will serves as a vehicle for distilling a lifetime of wisdom and relaying messages of hope and love.

The Higgs boson particle glues it together, but we give it meaning

September 11, 2012

Discovery of the “God particle” reinforces both the standard model of particle physics and the quantum model.

To reduce sharps injuries, all of us must create a culture of safety in our workplaces

September 11, 2012

In the 12 years since passage of the federal Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act (NSPA), much progress has been made to reduce the risk of healthcare worker exposure…

What followers want in their nurse leaders

September 11, 2012

Why would anyone want you to lead them? That’s a question nurses rarely ask themselves before they take on leadership positions. But it’s an important one, because if…

A new egalitarianism

To provide better care and reduce costs, provider groups who’ve rarely considered themselves equals need to collaborate in a new egalitarianism.

A ROADMAP involves patients and families in the plan of care

This electronic tool keeps patients and families informed on key aspects of care.

Bring on the heat!

Unit nurses take a creative approach to solving a clinical practice problem.

Center for nursing history gets new name

The University of Virginia School of Nursing has renamed its nursing history center to ” Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry. ”…

Choosing wisely: Resources for selecting sharps safety devices

An essential part of a sharps safety program is selecting appropriate devices, such as safety needles. While no one device, feature, or mechanism of…

Culture trifecta: Building the infrastructure for Magnet® and just culture

At one community hospital, nurses, physicians, and administrators worked together to build the infrastructure for Magnet® and just culture into their organization, aiding their…

Defusing lateral violence and abuse

If you’ve been on the receiving end of this behavior, you need to express your needs and set boundaries assertively.

Essential elements of a comprehensive sharps injury-prevention program

The steps outlined below can help facilities significantly reduce sharps injuries.

FDA marks 50 years of Kefauver-Harris amendment

This year the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is marking the anniversary of the Kefauver-Harris amendment, passed 50 years ago. The legislation gave…

From Your ANA President

HAVING WORKED in an emergency department for more than 20 years, I know what it’s like to have to think fast and move fast…

Headlines from the Hill Dollars and…sense?

As Congress nears the "fiscal cliff" and the so-called sequester with its across-the-board spending cuts, ANA will continue to advocate for funding of programs…

Health, safety, & wellness

The hidden dangers of sleep loss

How to keep your communications professional

Whether you communicate in person, on the phone, or via voice mail, e-mail, or text message, be sure to use proper etiquette.

Is it syncope—or something worse?

Sudden unresponsiveness, pallor, and low blood pressure raise red flags.

Issues up close

Foundational documents underscore shared responsibility for staffing

List of Supporting Organizations for Moving the Sharps Safety Agenda Forward in the United States: Consensus Statement and Call to Action

Background: The International Healthcare Worker Safety Center (IHWSC) at the University of Virginia drafted and began circulating the consensus statement on sharps safety in…