September 2015 Vol. 10 No. 9

cherish differences

Cherish the differences

You’ve probably heard of groupthink—the psychological phenomenon that arises in a group, where the desire for conformity or harmony leads to irrational or dysfunctional decision making. Everyone seems…

FDA approves drug for rare metabolic disorder

On Sept. 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xuriden (uridine triacetate), the first FDA-approved treatment for patients with hereditary orotic aciduria, a rare metabolic disorder…

FDA approves new drugs

·On Sept. 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lonsurf (a pill that combines two drugs, trifluridine and tipiracil) for patients with advanced colorectal cancer who…

From your ANA President

You can call it by other names, but care coordination has been an essential part of nursing practice for decades. It’s part of our past, our present, and…
Magnet® document submission

Get ready for web-based electronic Magnet® document submission

According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the Magnet Recognition Program® “recognizes healthcare organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice.” As of…

Headlines from the Hill

Registered nurses (RNs) from around the country took their message to Capitol Hill during the American Nurses Association’s (ANA’s) annual Lobby Day on July 22. A delegation of…
Published

How to get your article published

Many of us have a secret desire to see our ideas in print—to be viewed as a thought leader or a recognized subject matter expert. So what stops…

Issues up close

The year is 1989. The Hubble telescope is under construction for launch. The Cold War is ending with the fall of the Berlin Wall. And scientists are beginning…
nurse

Keeping nurses healthy, safe, and well

To keep patients healthy, safe, and well, registered nurses (RNs) have to be healthy, safe, and well themselves. Yet RNs face health, safety, and wellness risks unique to…

Meaningful use is a workforce issue

As you’re probably aware, meaningful use refers to use of electronic health record (EHR) technology to improve the quality and effectiveness of patient care. The Centers for Medicare…

Mindfulness mediation may affect memory

Mindfulness meditation may make memories less accurate, according to a study in Psychological Science. Read more and read the study abstract.
hospital-acquired infections

Moving toward zero hospital-acquired infections

As a nurse, you’re likely familiar with the added workload of caring for patients with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)—catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), surgical-site…

MRSA persists in community

The incidence of the most common strain of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has decreased in hospital-onset cases, but has failed to decline in the broader community, according…

New report calls for improvement in diagnosing

“Improving Diagnosis in Health Care,” a new report from the Institute of Medicine states “most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with…

Nursing practice and work environment

As influenza season approaches, registered nurses (RNs) can prepare by knowing the latest information about adult immunizations and influenza. Adult immunizations Each year, tens of thousands of adults…

Our readers repond

  October 5, 2015 In response to: Understanding the Charge Nurse’s Role in Staffing (September, 2015) Dear Editor: The American Nurses Association (ANA) beautifully outlined principles of how…

Preventing central line–associated bloodstream infections

Central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are among the most common hospital-acquired infections. Patients diagnosed and treated for CLABSIs require additional therapies and interventions, have longer stays, and face…
medication errors

Preventing medication errors by empowering patients

Preventable medication errors cost the U.S. healthcare system more than $21 billion annually, according to the National Priorities Partnership and National Quality Forum. This number has risen significantly…
Needlesticks

Preventing needlestick and sharps injuries

Editor’s note: This article is the first in a three-part series brought to you in partnership with the International Safety Center. Watch for the next two articles on…
perioperative nursing surgery center

Preventing surgical-site infections

  Surgical-site infections (SSIs) can lead to increased postoperative stays, higher readmission rates and healthcare costs, and poorer health outcomes. In a 2014 study, SSIs tied with pneumonia…
Attachments

Releasing our attachments to the past

Jake, a critical care nursing director, works for a large healthcare system that has invested heavily in testing the use of robots to support operational tasks and provide…
Respiratory changes

Subtle respiratory changes raise a red flag

Catherine Sheehan, age 94, is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with a new diagnosis of heart failure and acute kidney injury. Laboratory results show an elevated B-type natriuretic…

Suicide underestimated in U.S.

Self-inflicted injury is actually the eighth, not the tenth, leading cause of death, above kidney disease, and pneumonia and influenza, according to a report in JAMA Psychiatry. Read…

The business case for optimizing the nursing workforce

In this special section, “Preparing the Workforce—Today and Tomorrow,” you’ll find trends, practical strategies, and food for thought. The articles are designed to help nurses in all specialties and…
Mindfulness

The mindful nurse

Mindfulness is an increasingly common topic in both popular and professional literature. In clinical populations, evidence suggests mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can reduce symptoms linked to various conditions, including…
Second victim

The second victim experience: Mitigating the harm

Like most nurses, you probably consider yourself emotionally strong and resilient, with defenses that help you “get the job done” through­out your busy shift. But if a patient…
Using technology

Using technology to engage patients

Our increasingly mobile lifestyle has created a new context for health care. Advances in digital health technologies, including personal health apps, sensors, cloud-based data housing, and big data,…

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