September 2016 Vol. 11 No. 9 Archives

September 2016 Vol. 11 No. 9

ANT education guide booklet magazine nurse

American Nurse Today: Education Guide

October 18, 2016

Education is a valuable tool for advancing your nursing career. This special guide explains how to choose the right educational option…

Carbon monoxide poisoning: The silent killer

September 12, 2016

In June 2013, a mother and her 11-year-old son drove to the North Carolina mountains for an overnight stay and checked into a nice hotel with…

Developing a leadership legacy

September 21, 2016

Leadership means different things to different people. For example, it might be a position of authority or perceived power. It might be a role…

Evidence-based interview strategy for new nurses

September 7, 2016

For many nurses, job interviews induce fear. The competitive job market has made interview preparation more important than ever, especially for new…

Fall prevention: A contract with patients and families

September 14, 2016

Editor’s note: This is the second of three case studies describing success stories in preventing falls and injuries from falls. The…

FDA approves first drug for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy

September 23, 2016

On Sept. 19, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Exondys 51 (eteplirsen) injection, the first drug approved to treat…

FDA permits marketing of balloon device for Eustachian tube dysfunction

September 23, 2016

On Sept. 16, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permitted marketing of the Aera system, a device that uses a…

How to help patients live with liver failure

September 21, 2016

A life-threatening condition, liver failure results from liver damage. In many cases, the damage is gradual and silent, causing few symptoms until the organ loses…

New kidney biomarkers: A faster way to detect acute kidney injury

September 21, 2016

It’s 7:30 am, and you’ve just received report on your patients. One of them, Anna Clark, age 77, is a…

Oral Chemotherapy: Not just an ordinary pill

September 8, 2016

Fran, a triage nurse in a busy primary care office, receives a call from Marla Rodriguez, whose mother is a long-time patient. Marla says her mother…

Partnerships bring infection prevention practices to nurses

September 21, 2016

Spurred by the 2014 Ebola crisis and such emerging threats as Zika virus and antibiotic resistance, ANA is partnering with leading public health…

Patient assignment vs. nurse staffing: More than just numbers

September 7, 2016

For more than 15 years, I’ve been advocating for healthcare leaders to replace the term “opinion-based” with “evidence-based.” Too often, I’ve heard, “In my…

Political advocacy: A passion for shaping health care and our practice

September 21, 2016

We are engaged in a high-stakes profession—serving on the frontlines as essential players throughout our patients’ healthcare journeys, and invariably the first and last…

Practical steps for applying acuity-based staffing

September 7, 2016

In the healthcare arena, change happens at a rapid pace. Healthcare leaders face the continual challenge of delivering high-quality patient care while managing costs. A…

Practical steps for applying acuity-based staffing

November 1, 2016

In the healthcare arena, change happens at a rapid pace. Healthcare leaders face the continual challenge of delivering high-quality patient care while managing costs. A growing…

Risk-adjusted mortality rates: Why you should care about them

September 12, 2016

Have you ever heard of risk-adjusted mortality? Maybe you’re thinking, “No! It sounds like something only a healthcare administrator or researcher would be interested…

Sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia in an elderly patient

September 21, 2016

Myrna Klein, age 82, is admitted to the medical-surgical unit from the emergency department (ED) at 9 pm for an…

The critical role of nurses in promoting immunization for adults

September 8, 2016

Children aren’t the only ones who need vaccines. Older adults and those with chronic health conditions are particularly at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases. Yet…

Three first steps for effective succession planning

October 21, 2016

In light of the predicted nursing shortage, nursing leaders need to take strategic action to prepare nurses to assume key leadership roles in…

What the mirror doesn’t tell you

September 8, 2016

“I hate my body.” “I’m such a fat, worthless cow.” “Where did all these gray hairs and wrinkles come from?” “I have total thunder thighs.” “How could…