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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....
Acute kidney injury: Causes, phases, and early detection
When you arrive for your afternoon shift, you receive report from the day-shift nurse. He states he just admitted Marc Stevens, age 78, after...
Using oral care to prevent nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia
May Grossman, age 57, is admitted for elective surgery to reverse a colostomy from a previous surgical procedure. Her health has been good except...
Refining stool consistency descriptors can help prevent adverse outcomes
Stool consistency and form are significant aspects of a GI assessment, providing valuable information about the patient’s bowel motility. Properly identifying and describing these...
Supplemental nutrition in hospitalized patients with diabetes
Continuing Nursing Education
Learning objectives 1. Differentiate between enteral and parenteral nutrition. 2. Discuss how to manage hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes who...
Understanding retrograde I.V. blood collection in clinical research
When arterial blood is desired in the research setting, blood obtained from a heated hand using a retrograde venous access device is an acceptable...
Caring for patients in respiratory failure
Respiratory failure is one of the most common reasons for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and a common comorbidity in patients admitted...
Stroke in a child with sickle cell anemia
Adrienne Johnson, age 5, is admitted to the general pediatric unit. She has sickle cell anemia (hemoglobin SS subtype) and recently was discharged after...
Beware of oversimplifying mealtime insulin dosing for hospital patients
It’s lunchtime. Three of your patients are scheduled to receive rapid-acting insulin in addition to sliding-scale insulin.
Mr. Jones, age 87, has type 2...
Respiratory failure from a myasthenic crisis
Nina Robbins, age 36, is admitted to the medical unit with pyelonephritis. She states she has had a fever above 102° F, back pain,...
FDA approves new drug for serious skin infections
On June 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sivextro (tedizolid phosphate) to treat patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure...
How Magnet® designation affects nurse retention: An evidence-based research project
A positive work environment and nurse satisfaction can improve nurse retention.
Can teach-back reduce hospital readmissions?
A study shows this method helps educators focus on topics the patient doesn’t fully grasp.
Study: SNFs have high readmission rates of Medicare patients
A high percentage of Medicare patients who are discharged from skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) will return to the hospital or the ED within 30...
How electronic health records are improving health care for elderly patients
Innovative information technology tools help ensure patients get the right care at the right time.
Study: Former prison inmates at risk for hospitalization
A study in JAMA Internal Medicine reports that former prison inmates have a higher risk for hospitalization than the general population. About 1 in...
Managing glucose levels in hospital patients
You’re likely to encounter hospital patients with diabetes. Are you up to date on the latest management guidelines?
Medication errors after hospital discharge common
A study in Annals of Internal Medicine found that half of patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes or acute decompensated heart failure had "clinically...
Study: Acute care elders unit shortens hospital stay, maintains patients’ functional abilities
June’s Health Affairs includes a study of an Acute Care for Elders Unit, which found that length of stay was significantly shorter, inpatient costs...
SWAT nursing: A unique specialty
What does SWAT stand for?
So Where Are They?
Smart, Witty, and Talented?
Smiling, Willing, Able, Technical?
At the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS),...
Injury patterns in competitive college athletes identified
A study in the Journal of Athletic Training found that male competitive college athletes had a higher acute injury rate than their female counterparts,...
Never fear—the critical-care resource nurse is here
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.
What’s causing this respiratory distress?
How to recognize and reverse transfuion-related acute lung injury.
Seeking staffing solutions
This update explains the state of legislated staffing solutions - state by state.
Avoiding complications from an acute GI bleed
When a patient begins to vomit bright red blood, a nurse relies on his knowledge of Mallory-Weiss tears-and the adroit interventions of the rapid response team.
The growing threat of cephalosporin resistance
Extensive use of third-generation cephalosporins has led to cephalosporin-resistant bacterial strains. Learn how these organisms cause deadly infections and you can help control their spread.
Don’t tolerate disruptive physician behavior
No matter if you like - or fear - a doctor who behaves badly, you must report the incident for the sake of the staff, the patients, the institution.
The voice of the consumer
This month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) begin reporting patient experience data from its Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems...
Prevailing over acute pancreatitis
How to manage this complex condition correctly to avoid severe complications.
Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome: What every acute-care nurse should know
Rapid withdrawal from antidepressant drugs can cause serious problems in acute-care patients. This article explains why acute-care nurses need to put antidepressant discontinuation syndrome on thier radar screen.
Using antibiotics effectively for acute-care patients
In the ever-escalating war between bacteria and human beings, some of the bugs are outsmarting us. Here's what you need to know about antibiotic therapy to help reduce bacterial resistance and optimize therapy for patients with acute infections.
Most Recent Content
For Nurse Practitioners
Quiz: Migraines and Hormones
Women are 2 to 3 times more likely than men to have migraines. Decades ago, these were attributed to women’s inability to cope with...