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Technology / Equipment
For many nurses, August is a whirlwind of back-to-school activity. And it’s not just the crunch of shopping for school supplies, new clothes, or that elusive trendy lunch…
The New York Times published an article on concerns related to “metal-on-metal” hip implants. Read the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/health/04metalhip.html?partner=rss&emc=rss.
An emphasis on a culture of safety and appropriate use of technology help the organization deliver safer and more efficient health care.
The complicated case of a retiree with a newly diagnosed lung tumor kicks off our new “Case Study” department.
Pradaxa gives clinicians a new tool for preventing strokes and blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation. Learn how it works, who’s eligible to receive it, and how…
Learn about LINX, a surgical procedure for treating chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Experts at the federal level are working to actualize the promise of health information technology.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a newly revised Spanish language medication tracking tool, “Su medicamento: Infórmese. Evite riesgos.” (“Your Medicine: Be Smart. Be Safe.”).…
AI isn’t coming to nursing. It’s here, on our units, and part of how we monitor, assess, and care for patients. The early warning flag before a patient’s…
Health apps hold the promise of greater access to medical services, better monitoring of chronic conditions, and improved patient outcomes.
Click to visit www.anaimmunize.org, the American Nurses Association’s online immunization resource.
Take the spontaneity out of new-product purchases to control costs and keep patients safe.
Take the spontaneity out of new-product purchases to control costs and keep patients safe.
An U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-advisory panel has voted to strip Avastin’s indication for metastatic breast cancer because the drug is not effective for this indication. Final…
Today, many nursing students graduate from educational programs without the clinical skills and judgment they need to handle a typical hospital caseload. At the same time, the number…
For the foreseeable future, efforts to minimize human contact will remain in place as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an important step in…
Seasonal influenza and influenza-related complications are the most frequent causes of death from a vaccine preventable disease in the United States. In 2006, the February 24 Morbidity and…
Testing a prototype identification system leads to 100% acuracy.
Unlike traditional vital signs, capnography yields clear, specific information about the patient’s condition and quickly alerts you to life-threatening disturbances.
Vaccines are known as one of the greatest achievements in public health over the last century. And each year, it seems more vaccines are introduced, or their uses…
Click to visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam, where you can find information from the CDC concerning this year’s National Immunization Awareness Month.
On June 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released recommendations related to the continued shortage of doxycycline, including what alternatives are available and cases in…
Patient-lift equipment is an essential contributor to effective safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) programs because it helps reduce injuries. However, to achieve a meaningful reduction, caregivers must…
A nursing team’s research findings lead to hospital-wide savings.
Every 40 seconds, someone has a stroke; every 4 minutes, someone dies from stroke. Strokes are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. The two…
This technique slowly removes wastes and excess plasma water, helping patients recover from their illness.
On March 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about counterfeit surgical mesh being distributed under C. R. Bard/Davol brand name. Affected lot numbers are…
Why critically ill patients with acute renal failure need continuous renal replacement therapy.
Newborn screening illustrates what can happen when genetic testing converges with ethics and electronic health records
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified healthcare professionals that several lots of XenMatrix Surgical Graft have been recalled because of elevated endotoxin levels. Read more at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm245720.htm.
Deep-brain stimulation can make a significant difference in the lives of patients with dystonia.
With multi-lead telemetry monitoring, a nurse detects dangerous changes in her patient’s heart rhythm, permitting quick action before an acute MI does permanent damage.
Our editor-in-chief tackles the issue of mandatory flu vaccination.
Learn how to promote pediatric immunizations in your practice. Part of ANA’s Bringing Immunity to Every Community campaign. this handout stresses the importance of vaccinating children and their…
Pregnant and postpartum women, immunocompromised children, and persons at high risk for flu-related complications have special immunization needs. Part of ANA’s Bringing Immunity to Every Community campaign, this…
Drugs that inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) may improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, reducing the risk of disease complications.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Tykerb (lapatinib) in combination with Femara (letrozole) to treat hormone positive and HER2-positive advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women for…
The July 29 issue of the Institute for Safe Medication Practice’s ISMP Medication Safety Alert! states that the number of drug shortages in the past few months is…
An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
WEB EXCLUSIVE! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals and removals.
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
According to the study “Patients Imaged Early During Admission Demonstrate Reduced Length of Hospital Stay: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Patients Undergoing Cross-Sectional Imaging,” the mean length of…
Pressure is building to develop a national electronic health record – and the nursing profession is playing a pivotal role in developing the standards needed to support it.
ECRI Institute has released its Top 10 Lists of Health Technology Hazards for 2011: radiation therapy dose errors, alarm hazards, cross-contamination from flexible endoscopes, high radiation dose of…
Emerging markets such as China, India, and Brazil are “gaining ground” in medical technology innovation and may surpass developed countries in innovative healthcare delivery over the next decade…
By Dawn Walters, MS, RN, Vice-President of Behavioral Health and Rehabilitation Services Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, New York As told to Janet Boivin, BSN, RN At Erie…
Use online tools to engage and motivate students. Evidence-based research has changed teaching from a traditional teacher-centered approach to a student-centered (constructivist) approach. According to neuroscience research, the…
Use sequential compression devices effectively to help achieve the best possible outcomes for patients.
Help reduce the toll of seasonal influenza by receiving, administering, teaching about, or encouraging seasonal influenza vaccination. This article is available to American Nurses Association members and ANJ…
On Nov. 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed marketing of four diagnostic devices that can be used for high throughput gene sequencing, often referred to…
On March 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed marketing of the first device as a preventative treatment for migraine headaches. This is also the first…
On April 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is allowing marketing of an expandable, multi-sponge wound dressing to control the bleeding from certain types…
On Feb. 1, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and medical device industry representatives announced they had reached an agreement in principle on proposed recommendations for the…
On Jan. 12, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Bedford Laboratories states certain vials of polymyxin and vecuronium bromide, recalled because of the possibility of glass…
On May 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces that injectable drugs used in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) will be imported into the U.S. to help…
On June 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Afrezza (insulin human) Inhalation Powder, a rapid-acting inhaled insulin to improve glycemic control in adults with diabetes…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Boostrix vaccine to prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis in people 65 years and older. Read more.
On Jan. 18, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) to treat adults with overactive bladder who can’t use or don’t…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Gadavist (gadobutrol), a contrast agent for use in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the central nervous system. Read…
On April 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Diclegis (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride) to treat pregnant women experiencing nausea and vomiting. Diclegis is a…
On July 5, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan CMV Test, a DNA viral load test that helps gauge the progress of anti-viral treatment…
On July 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Beleodaq (belinostat) for the treatment of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, a rare and fast-growing type of…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate) injection to reduce the risk of preterm delivery in pregnant women with a history of at…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of Prevnar 13, a pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine, in people 50 years and older. Read More.
On Oct. 25, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zohydro ER (hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release capsules) for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock,…
On Nov. 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Flucelvax, the first seasonal influenza vaccine licensed in the United States produced using cultured animal cells, instead…
The U.S. Food and Drug administration has approved the first generic version of Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium). Read more.
On Dec. 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic versions of Cymbalta (duloxetine delayed-release capsules). Read more.
On Feb. 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of FluMist Quadrivalent, the first influenza vaccine to contain four strains of the influenza virus,…
On Feb. 20, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, the first implanted device to treat adult patients with advanced…
On Nov. 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for use in combination with chlorambucil to treat patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia.…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Natroba (spinosad) Topical Suspension 0.9% for the treatment of head lice in patients 4 years and older. Read more at…
On Feb. 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the approved use of Imbruvica (ibrutinib) for chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients who have received at least one…
On Aug. 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. Read more.
On Jan. 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announce that it has authorized for marketing the Affymetrix CytoScan Dx Assay, which can detect chromosomal variations that…
On Aug. 9, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Marqibo (vincristine sulfate liposome injection) to treat adults with Philadelphia chromosome negative (Ph-) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a device to help reduce the frequency of seizures in epilepsy patients who have not responded well to medications.…
On April 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first medical device that uses radiofrequency energy to treat severe and persistent asthma in adults. The Alair…
On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Invokana (canagliflozin) tablets to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. Invokana has been studied as a stand-alone…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved roflumilast, an oral drug that reduces exacerbations from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Read more at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm244989.htm
On Aug. 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Linzess (linaclotide) to treat chronic idiopathic constipation and to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation in adults.…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Benlysta (belimumab) for treatment of lupus. The FDA last approved a drug for lupus in 1955. Read more at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm246489.htm.
On June 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Prolia (denosumab), an injectable treatment for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who are at high risk of fractures.…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Latuda (lurasidone HCL) tables for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia. Read more here.
On Jan. 25, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three new related products for the treatment of type 2 diabetes: Nesina (alogliptin) tablets, Kazano (alogliptin…
On March 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first implantable device for people 18 and older with severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss of…
On March 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of the Esteem, an implanted hearing system for moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. Read the…
On June 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a new use for Lymphoseek (technetium 99m tilmanocept) Injection, a radioactive diagnostic imaging agent used to help determine…
On Feb. 20, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically Shaped Silicone-Gel Filled Breast Implant for augmentation in women at…
On Dec. 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed marketing of the AXIOS Stent and Delivery System for treating pseudocysts that form in the pancreas and…
On Dec. 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tretten, Coagulation Factor XIII A-Subunit (Recombinant), the first recombinant product for use in the routine prevention of…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Yervoy (ipilimumab) for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma. Read more at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm1193237.htm.
On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Omontys (peginesatide) to treat anemia in adult patients who had chronic kidney disease and are on dialysis. Read…
On Feb. 26, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Osphena (ospemifene) to treat women with moderate to severe dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse), a symptom…
On June 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Perjeta (pertuzumab), a new anti-HER2 therapy, to treat patients with HER2-positive late-stage breast cancer. Read more.
On Feb. 8, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pomalyst (pomalidomide) to treat patients with multiple myeloma whose disease has progressed after being treated with…
On Jan. 16, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Flublok, the first trivalent influenza vaccine made using an insect virus (baculovirus) expression system and recombinant…
May 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new use for Simponi (golimumab) injection: to treat adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Read more.
On Oct. 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Synribo (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) for the treatment of adults with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Synribo blocks certain proteins that…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the first test that can quickly distinguish between methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA).…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Firazyr (icatibant) Injection for the treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema in people ages 18 years and older.…
On Nov. 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xeljanz (tofacitinib) to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate…
On April 5, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the STERIS System 1E Liquid Chemical Sterilant Processing System. The device is used to process reusable heat-sensitive devices…
On Sept. 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved revised labeling for the Sapien Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV), making the device available to patients who have…
On Dec. 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the approved use of Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) to treat men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer before receiving chemotherapy.…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified GlaxoSmithKline that the post-marketing trial of Avandia (rosiglitazone) is on “partial clinical hold,” meaning no new patients can be enrolled…
On Jan. 9, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance document to assist industry in developing new formulations of opioid drugs with that…
On Sept. 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued final guidance for developers of mobile medical apps. The agency has cleared about 100 mobile medical apps…
On Nov. 25, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication stating that certain HeartStart automated external defibrillator (AED) devices made by Philips Medical Systems,…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to implement changes in 2011 designed to improve review of medical devices. Read more at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm240418.htm.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing marketing of the first test to help diagnose people with signs and symptoms of dengue fever. Read more at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm250584.htm.
On Dec. 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed marketing of the Bio-Seal Lung Biopsy Tract Plug System, a device that seals punctures left by biopsies performed…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new policy that reduces premarket notification requirements related to devices that have had their safety and efficacy well…
On June 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that medical device manufacturers and health care facilities take steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released “Considering Whether an FDA-Regulated Product Involves the Application of Nanotechnology,” a draft guidance document available for comment. The goal is…
On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that a two-day expert advisory panel meeting on metal-on-metal hip replacement systems will take place June 27-28.…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to take the emergency birth control medicine labeled as Evital, which may not be safe or effective…
On Jan. 25, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified healthcare professionals of significant liver injury associated with the use of Samsca in patients with Autosomal Dominant…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning for surgical placement of mesh through the vagina to repair pelvic organ transplant. Adverse effects include tissue erosion,…
The author describes an innovative technique that is helping patients with C. difficile infection, including patient selection; care before, during, and after the procedure; and patient education.
Using new tools, researchers are exploring complex disorders in which genes and the environment strongly interact.
The Genetic/Genomic Competency Center (G2C2, http://www.g-2-c-2.org/) is a new free online resource created to help educators teach the next generation of nurses and physician assistants about genetics and…
Review these excerpts from anew book on genetics and ethics in health and nursing.
“Technology: No place for wimps!” —Scott Adams, “Dilbert” cartoonist Technology surrounds us, supports us, and sometimes smothers us. It is indeed no place for wimps. Fortunately, nurses aren’t…
Syncope is a common occurrence and is commonly benign. But sometimes a swoon signals a serious underlying condition. Learn what causes syncope and how to assess and intervene…
More nursing schools are using computerized manikins to help students gain skills and develop clinical judgment.
Innovative information technology tools help ensure patients get the right care at the right time.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) originates from atherosclerosis, a disease in which low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles build up in the arterial wall.
Integrated and interoperable information systems mean patient data entered by one healthcare provider can be shared by provciders across the entire care continuum. This article is available to…
Nurses in one large healthcare system are involved at all levels of EHR implementation
These arrhythmias can be tricky to interpret on a rhythm strip. The author guides you through the basics.
At schools that have integrated electronic health records into the curricula, students learn the importance of entering, managing, and using data to produce information and knowledge.
Increasing numbers of patients at risk for sudden cardiac death are receiving ICDs for primary prevention. This article explains how ICD therapy has grown more complicated.
Nuisance alarms, false alarms, and hard-to-identify alarms can imperil patient safety. The author describes ways to manage clinical alarms more efficiently. This article is available to American Nurses…
Several therapies are available to help patients with this progressive disease who develop airway infections.
With Bluetooth devices, system interfaces, and other high-tech advances, clinicians can make more accurate and timely treatment decisions. This article is available to American Nurses Association members and…
With the persistent focus on maintaining high childhood immunization rates, it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of adult immunization. But nurses must not allow such lapses…
ANA’s “Bringing Immunity to Every Community” campaign aims to boost RNs’ knowledge of immunization, encourage them to get vaccinated, and position them as leading immunization advocates.
Create a protocol for this lifesaving intervention at your facility.
Easy and inexpensive Thank you for Susan Fetzer’s excellent article, “Putting a stop to postop nausea and vomiting,” in the August issue. One treatment that wasn’t mentioned is…
A type of dialysis, MARS removes toxins and replaces lost liver functions.
Reprocessing can help an organization save money and protect the environment.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Teva Pharmaceuticals, USA is voluntarily recalling Metronidazole Tablets USP, 250mg, lot 312566, expiration date 05/2012 because “underweight” tablets may…
The earlier renal disease is detected, the better. That’s why the microalbumin test is so important for patients with certain chronic conditions.
Learn the advantages of repairing a mitral valve instead of replacing it.
After decades of dormancy, mumps is back and could be making an appearacne soon at a clinic or hospital near you.
Learn more about this common disorder of neuromuscular transmission and its affects on patients
Screening for colorectal cancer is still underused, especially by low-income people, the uninsured, Asians and Hispanics, foreign-born people, and those with limited English-language skills according to a new…
An advisory panel has recommended the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve Benlysta; it would be the first new drug approved to treat Lupus in over 50 years.…
Pharmacomechanical thrombectomy removes dangerous clots to restore healthy function in hours.
Researchers have developed a simple MRI technique that may help in the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Read more and read the study abstract.
Researchers at MIT have developed a needle-free injection device to deliver drugs. The device offers greater control than previous devices for regulating delivery volume and depth. Read more.
The Genetic/Genomic Competency Center (G2C2, http://www.g-2-c-2.org/) is a new free online resource created to help educators teach the next generation of nurses and physician assistants about genetics and…
Researchers have developed a new opioid drug, UMB 425, which is as strong as morphine, but has reduced tolerance over time and no obvious toxic effects. The drug…
“Secrets of HIE Success Revealed: Lessons from the Leaders,” a report released by the National eHealth Collaborative, features 12 case studies of mature health information exchange (HIE) organizations.…
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.
In a study of 120 smokers, those who saw handling of the cigarette as an important part of smoking and used a nicotine-free inhaler (“fake cigarette) as part…
A National Institute of Health (NIH) advisory board has approved the creation of National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, a move intended to accelerate drug development. Read more…
In an AMNT roundtable, executives discuss the value of engaging frontline nurses in technology decisions, explore the chief nursing officer’s role in technology selection, and exchange views on…
A survey of attitudes, knowledge and genomic competency
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that over-the-counter (OTC) asthma inhalers containing chloroflouorocarbons (CFCs) will no longer be made or sold after Dec. 31, 2011, because…
Family initiated rapid response team After reading the article “Family initiated rapid response team (FIRR)” by Ehrig S., Hepburn, J., Riley, P., and Smolen, A., in the American…
More children are going unvaccinated these days. This article can help reverse this worrisome trend.
The National Health Service must embrace technology to meet the challenges it faces.
Although the hazards of manual patient lifting and transferring are well known, misinformation persists.
Peripheral arterial disease is all too common – and all too often goes unrecognized.
American Nurse Today…Online reported on the nationwide pertussis, or whooping cough, outbreak in June. Unfortunately, four months later, the updated news is not good. In California, where the…
Brush up on your knowledge of these potentially life-saving drugs.
An open-label study of 80 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) found that those who knew they were receiving a placebo still experienced improvements, including reduced symptom severity,…
Malnutrition is surprisingly common in hospital patients-but detecting it can be easy when prealbumin levels are measured This article is available to American Nurses Association members and ANJ…
Our Editor-in-Chief tells the story of her experience as a patient.
The transition to a paperless health system is a chance for nurses to shape the technology.
Electronic health records, HIT, and nursing informatics are transforming American health care.
Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which makes Darvon and Darvocet, the brand versions of the prescription pain medication propoxyphene, has agreed to withdraw the medication from the U.S. market at…
Why is immunization so crucial for nurses? Which vaccinations should all nurses get? Find out with this educational handout focusing on national efforts to reduce vaccine-preventable disease through…
Confused about central catheters? Here’s what you need to know.
Pulse oximetry helps med-surg nurses meet the challenge of caring for the greater numbers of acutely ill patients they’re seeing.
A nurse working in the intensive care unit administers 100 mg of diazepam I.V. as ordered by the new resident. Although she checks on the patient often and…
Which of the following is an advantage of a dry-suction chest drainage system? a. Lower levels of suction pressure b. Variable bubbling, which indicates proper functioning c. A…
A goal of the induction phase of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest is to: a. quickly warm the patient to target body temperature. b. slowly cool the patient…
More than half of cancer patients get radiation therapy. This article gives a basic overview of this potentially life-saving treatment, discusses nursing interventions for radiation patients, and tells…
Here’s the part I want you to consider. None of these tools, rule-based or AI-based, diagnose anything. They’re not telling you what’s wrong with your patient. They’re telling…
On Oct. 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted that Codman & Shrutleff, Inc., has recalled its MedStream Programmable Pump and MedStream Refill Kit because air…
On Oct. 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted that Hospira has recalled one lot of metoclopramide injection and two lost of ondansetron injection because of…
New techniques expand the options for high-risk patients and cause fewer complications than conventional surgery.
Flu season approaches. Protect yourself and your patients by getting immunized.
Seasonal influenza vaccination and the nurse We are about to enter the seasonal influenza vaccination year. There continues to be concern, and rightly so, about the low seasonal…
Undergoing a single screening sigmoidoscopy between ages 55 and 64 reduced the incidence of colorectal cancer according to a study of 34,272. Read more.
These six drug profiles, along with the six in the March issue of American Nurse Today, bring you up to date on significant advances in drug therapy.
Although adverse events can occur anytime during hospitalization, handoff communication is often the cause of avoidable adverse events. Miscommunication, care continuity disruption, critical data omission, medication errors, and…
Thomas Stenvig, PhD, MPH, RN, CNAA-BC, has a long and distinguished career in immunization and public health. And now, he has a new achievement in national immunization policy…
Telehealth in stroke care “One minute the patient is completely fine and then blood flow to the brain is disrupted,” says Dr. Mona Bahouth. “Stroke is a leading…
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treatment with a leukotriene-receptor antagonist (LTRA) was as effective as inhaled glucocorticoid therapy as first-line controller therapy…
A study in Heart has found another benefit of influenza vaccination: It may reduce the risk of myocardial infarction in middle-aged (50 to 64 years) people with narrowed…
According to “Influenza Illness and Hospitalizations Averted by Influenza Vaccination in the United States, 2005–2011,” published in PLOSOne, vaccination prevented a minimum of 1.1 million influenza illnesses in…
According to a study in Psychological Medicine, MRIs may help diagnose people with bipolar disorder. The researchers correctly differentiated bipolar patients from healthy individuals with 73% accuracy based…
Researchers at the University of Missouri have found that resveratrol may block the effects of methamphetamine. Read more.
Severe skin reactions during radiation therapy could be prevented by applying a thin transparent silicone dressing to the skin from the first day of treatment, according to a…
The Stroop smartphone application (EncephalApp_Stroop) is a short, valid, and reliable tool for screening for minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), according to a study in Hepatology. Currently, there are…
A monthly round-up of clinical, practice, and career news, updates, and alerts.
Good news for younger women taking estrogen Estrogen therapy may have cardioprotective effects for women who start taking it in their 50s. A study from the Women’s Health…
Web exclusive! A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts at www.AmericanNurseToday.com
WEB EXCLUSIVE! A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts.
Measles outbreak Between January 1 and April 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received reports of 64 measles cases in nine states—the highest number for the…
A weekly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts.
A monthly round up of clinical, practice, and career news, updates, and alerts.
American Diabetes Association releases food guidelines for specific medical categories “When you’re talking about diabetes, there is no ‘one size fits all’ diet,” said Ann Albright, PhD, RD,…
A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts.
Web Exclusive! A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts.
Patients lose when nurse staffing is insufficient Heavy workloads and insufficient staffing affect patient care, according to about 2,000 nurses surveyed worldwide by the International Council of Nurses…
Johnson & Johnson’s Campaign for Nursing’s Future In 2002, Johnson & Johnson launched the Campaign for Nursing’s Future to enhance the image of nursing, help recruit new nurses…
Nursing informatics professionals are ready to lead the transformation to a technology-enabled healthcare environment.
Where would you be without a “smart” phone to manage your life? We’ve adapted to noxious ring tones; how have we adapted to technology in nursing?
Read an interesting editorial about Avandia here. A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel recommended keeping the drug on the market, but increasing warnings about the drug’s potential…
As hospital admissions shrink, nursing jobs are shiftingto other areas, such as outpatient offices, clinics, postacute facilities, and home care.
Resources and advocacy to support healthcare organizations. Takeaways: The Joint Commission has taken actions to support health care organizations with accreditation surveys and certification reviews during the pandemic.…
With a shrinking workforce and more complex healthcare, how can nurses raise the bar on clinical excellence? One hospital uses health information technology to improve efficiency and reduce…
Oncology nurses have long appreciated that the “one size fits all” strategy—basing chemotherapy dosages on body surface area—for treating cancer does not work because of variations in patients’…
Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution, used to relieve moderate to severe pain in patients tolerant to opioids. liraglutide (Victoza), a once-daily injection for treating type 2 diabetes in adults.
Until recently, the outlook for patients who remained comatose after cardiac arrest was dire. But therapeutic hypothermia is turning the tide. Learn the facts about this life-saving approach.
Editor-in-Chief Pam Cipriano interviews the nation’s health IT "czar" on nurses’ role in transforming health care through the electronic health record.
On Jan. 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FA) approved Voraxaze (glucarpidase) to treat patients with toxic blood levels of methotrexate because of renal failure. Read more.
This noninvasive technique gives early warning of respiratory compromise.
Learn how to detect and manage pain in patients who may not respond to pain in expected ways.
There is a saying that if you’ve experienced one influenza season, you’ve experienced one influenza season. Influenza is a highly unpredictable virus, and the 2011-2012 season has proved…
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…
The author takes the reader on her step-by-step journey that resulted in a change in practice.
Workforce-management software and operational integration help match the right nurse to the right patient at the right time.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released “Screening for hepatitis B virus infection in nonpregnant adolescents and adults,” which recommends screening in patients at high risk…
To aid ongoing safety surveillance for the H1N1 vaccine, be sure to report patients’ postvaccination events. This article is available to American Nurses Association members and ANJ subscribers…
Your knowledge and your patient teaching can be the difference between a quick recovery and a serious complication.
Should healthcare workers be required to obtain flu vaccines? The author presents both sides of the issue.
Colonoscopy minus the colonoscope; accuracy without invasiveness. These are just a few of the benefits of virtual colonoscopy.
Technology has touched nearly every aspect of Americans’ lives. It’s changed how people communicate, work, and learn. And while some nurses view the explosion of online nursing programs…
Virtual-building orientation teaches hospital staff how to navigate a new building even before the move takes place.
How genetic testing ensures that patients start warfarin therapy at their personal-best doses.
When it comes to health information technology (HIT), every nurses has a stake in—and a piece of—the action. Let’s figure out how to make HIT work for, not…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all healthcare workers receive the influenza vaccine. Here is how one medical center is working to meet that goal.
Electronic health records (EHRs) are here to stay. Beginning January 1, 2014, all public and private healthcare providers were required to adopt and demonstrate “meaningful use” of EHRs…
Have you ever heard a child with pertussis (whooping cough)? Chances are, thanks to decades of pertussis vaccines, you haven’t. Watch a video of a baby with the…
Continuous pulse oximetry monitoring immediately alerts clinicians to hypoxemia in unstable critically ill patients, so they can intervene before tissue hyposia sets in. This article is available to…
‘Tis the season…to immunize
For many nurses, August is a whirlwind of back-to-school activity. And it’s not just the crunch of shopping for school supplies, new clothes, or…
“Metal-on-metal” hip implant concerns on the rise
The New York Times published an article on concerns related to “metal-on-metal” hip implants. Read the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/health/04metalhip.html?partner=rss&emc=rss.
A Case Study: Using Technology to Build a Culture of Safety
An emphasis on a culture of safety and appropriate use of technology help the organization deliver safer and more efficient health care.
A catastrophic diagnosis puts nursing care to the test
The complicated case of a retiree with a newly diagnosed lung tumor kicks off our new “Case Study” department.
A new oral anticoagulant hits the market
Pradaxa gives clinicians a new tool for preventing strokes and blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation. Learn how it works, who’s eligible to…
A new surgical intervention for reflux treatment
Learn about LINX, a surgical procedure for treating chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Advancing adoption of the electronic health record
Experts at the federal level are working to actualize the promise of health information technology.
AHRQ releases Spanish medication tracking tool
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a newly revised Spanish language medication tracking tool, “Su medicamento: Infórmese. Evite riesgos.” (“Your Medicine:…
AI at the bedside
AI isn’t coming to nursing. It’s here, on our units, and part of how we monitor, assess, and care for patients. The early warning…
Amazing apps: Space-age tools for clinicians
Health apps hold the promise of greater access to medical services, better monitoring of chronic conditions, and improved patient outcomes.
ANA Immunize resource
Click to visit www.anaimmunize.org, the American Nurses Association’s online immunization resource.
Applying a systematic approach to new-product assessment
Take the spontaneity out of new-product purchases to control costs and keep patients safe.
Applying a systematic approach to new-product assessment
Take the spontaneity out of new-product purchases to control costs and keep patients safe.
Avastin may lose metastatic breast cancer indication
An U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-advisory panel has voted to strip Avastin’s indication for metastatic breast cancer because the drug is not effective…
Banner Simulation Medical Center: Using simulation to set up new nurses for success
Today, many nursing students graduate from educational programs without the clinical skills and judgment they need to handle a typical hospital caseload. At the…
Beasts, gods and FaceTime: The anguish of visitor limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic
For the foreseeable future, efforts to minimize human contact will remain in place as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is…
Best practices for seasonal influenza immunization
Seasonal influenza and influenza-related complications are the most frequent causes of death from a vaccine preventable disease in the United States. In 2006, the…
Blood transfusions: How technology can improve patient safety
Testing a prototype identification system leads to 100% acuracy.
Capnography: A vital sign for the 21st century
Unlike traditional vital signs, capnography yields clear, specific information about the patient’s condition and quickly alerts you to life-threatening disturbances.
CDC publishes updates to immunization schedules for children and adults
Vaccines are known as one of the greatest achievements in public health over the last century. And each year, it seems more vaccines are…
CDC recognizes National Immunization Awareness Month
Click to visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam, where you can find information from the CDC concerning this year’s National Immunization Awareness Month.
CDC releases recommendations related to doxycycline shortages
On June 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released recommendations related to the continued shortage of doxycycline, including what alternatives are…
Ceiling lifts and safe patient handling and mobility programs
Patient-lift equipment is an essential contributor to effective safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) programs because it helps reduce injuries. However, to achieve a…
Central venous catheter dressings put to the test
A nursing team’s research findings lead to hospital-wide savings.
Cerebral interventional radiology: New options for stroke victims
Every 40 seconds, someone has a stroke; every 4 minutes, someone dies from stroke. Strokes are the fourth leading cause of death in the…
Continuous renal replacement therapy: Dialysis for critically ill patients
This technique slowly removes wastes and excess plasma water, helping patients recover from their illness.
Counterfeit surgical mesh
On March 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about counterfeit surgical mesh being distributed under C. R. Bard/Davol brand name.…
CRRT spells success against acute renal failure in critically ill patients
Why critically ill patients with acute renal failure need continuous renal replacement therapy.
Current and future newborn screening
Newborn screening illustrates what can happen when genetic testing converges with ethics and electronic health records
Davol XenMatrix Surgical Graft recall
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified healthcare professionals that several lots of XenMatrix Surgical Graft have been recalled because of elevated endotoxin levels.…
Deep-brain stimulation: Hope for dystonia patients
Deep-brain stimulation can make a significant difference in the lives of patients with dystonia.
Detecting cardiac injury with telemetry
With multi-lead telemetry monitoring, a nurse detects dangerous changes in her patient’s heart rhythm, permitting quick action before an acute MI does permanent damage.
Do you know the schedule for vaccinating children?
Learn how to promote pediatric immunizations in your practice. Part of ANA’s Bringing Immunity to Every Community campaign. this handout stresses the importance of…
Do you know which vaccines are recommended for special populations?
Pregnant and postpartum women, immunocompromised children, and persons at high risk for flu-related complications have special immunization needs. Part of ANA’s Bringing Immunity to…
DPP-4 inhibitors: A new option for diabetes management
Drugs that inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) may improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, reducing the risk of disease complications.
Drug approval for breast cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Tykerb (lapatinib) in combination with Femara (letrozole) to treat hormone positive and HER2-positive advanced breast cancer…
Drug shortages unprecedented says ISMP
The July 29 issue of the Institute for Safe Medication Practice’s ISMP Medication Safety Alert! states that the number of drug shortages in the…
Drugs Today – February 2009
WEB EXCLUSIVE! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
Drugs Today – November 2008
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
Early imaging reduces length of stay
According to the study “Patients Imaged Early During Admission Demonstrate Reduced Length of Hospital Stay: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Patients Undergoing Cross-Sectional Imaging,”…
Easing the way for the electronic health record
Pressure is building to develop a national electronic health record – and the nursing profession is playing a pivotal role in developing the standards…
ECRI releases top 10 health technology hazards for 2011
ECRI Institute has released its Top 10 Lists of Health Technology Hazards for 2011: radiation therapy dose errors, alarm hazards, cross-contamination from flexible endoscopes,…
Emerging markets make gains in medical technology innovation
Emerging markets such as China, India, and Brazil are “gaining ground” in medical technology innovation and may surpass developed countries in innovative healthcare delivery…
Enclosure bed: A tool for calming agitated patients
By Dawn Walters, MS, RN, Vice-President of Behavioral Health and Rehabilitation Services Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, New York As told to Janet Boivin,…
Enhancing nursing curriculum with an injection of technology
Use online tools to engage and motivate students. Evidence-based research has changed teaching from a traditional teacher-centered approach to a student-centered (constructivist) approach. According…
Enhancing patient outcomes with sequential compression device therapy
Use sequential compression devices effectively to help achieve the best possible outcomes for patients.
Environment, health, & safey
Help reduce the toll of seasonal influenza by receiving, administering, teaching about, or encouraging seasonal influenza vaccination. This article is available to American Nurses…
FDA allows marketing of ‘next generation’ gene sequencing devices
On Nov. 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed marketing of four diagnostic devices that can be used for high throughput gene…
FDA allows marketing of first device to prevent migraine headaches
On March 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed marketing of the first device as a preventative treatment for migraine headaches. This…
FDA allows marketing of military dressing
On April 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is allowing marketing of an expandable, multi-sponge wound dressing to control the…
FDA announces agreement in principle on medical device user fees
On Feb. 1, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and medical device industry representatives announced they had reached an agreement in principle on…
FDA announces guidelines for polymyxin, vecuronium recall
On Jan. 12, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Bedford Laboratories states certain vials of polymyxin and vecuronium bromide, recalled because of…
FDA announces import of injectable drugs used in TPN to ease shortage
On May 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces that injectable drugs used in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) will be imported into…
FDA approves Afrezza
On June 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Afrezza (insulin human) Inhalation Powder, a rapid-acting inhaled insulin to improve glycemic control…
FDA approves Boostrix for older people
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Boostrix vaccine to prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis in people 65 years and older.…
FDA approves Botox for treatment of overactive bladder
On Jan. 18, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) to treat adults with overactive bladder who…
FDA approves contrast agent for CNS MRI scans
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Gadavist (gadobutrol), a contrast agent for use in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the…
FDA approves Diclegis for pregnant women who have nausea and vomiting
On April 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Diclegis (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride) to treat pregnant women experiencing nausea and…
FDA approves DNA test to help manage CMV infection in organ transplant patients
On July 5, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan CMV Test, a DNA viral load test that helps gauge the…
FDA approves drug for treating rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
On July 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Beleodaq (belinostat) for the treatment of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, a rare…
FDA approves drug to reduce risk of preterm birth
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate) injection to reduce the risk of preterm delivery in pregnant women with…
FDA approves expanded use of Prevnar vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of Prevnar 13, a pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine, in people 50 years and…
FDA approves extended-release, single-entity hydrocodone product
On Oct. 25, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zohydro ER (hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release capsules) for the management of pain severe enough…
FDA approves first flu vaccine using new manufacturing technique
On Nov. 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Flucelvax, the first seasonal influenza vaccine licensed in the United States produced using…
FDA approves first generic version of Lipitor
The U.S. Food and Drug administration has approved the first generic version of Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium). Read more.
FDA approves first generic versions of Cymbalta
On Dec. 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic versions of Cymbalta (duloxetine delayed-release capsules). Read more.
FDA approves first quadrivalent vaccine to prevent seasonal influenza
On Feb. 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of FluMist Quadrivalent, the first influenza vaccine to contain four strains…
FDA approves first retinal implant for adults with advanced retinitis pigmentosa
On Feb. 20, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, the first implanted device to treat…
FDA approves Gazyva for chronic lymphocytic leukemia
On Nov. 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for use in combination with chlorambucil to treat patients with previously…
FDA approves head lice treatment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Natroba (spinosad) Topical Suspension 0.9% for the treatment of head lice in patients 4 years and…
FDA approves Imbruvica to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia
On Feb. 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the approved use of Imbruvica (ibrutinib) for chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients who have…
FDA approves Lucentis for diabetic macular edema
On Aug. 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. Read more.
FDA approves marketing of postnatal test for developmental disabilities
On Jan. 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announce that it has authorized for marketing the Affymetrix CytoScan Dx Assay, which can…
FDA approves Marqibo for rare type of leukemia
On Aug. 9, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Marqibo (vincristine sulfate liposome injection) to treat adults with Philadelphia chromosome negative (Ph-)…
FDA approves medical device for epilepsy
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a device to help reduce the frequency of seizures in epilepsy patients who have not…
FDA approves new device for asthma
On April 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first medical device that uses radiofrequency energy to treat severe and persistent asthma…
FDA approves new diabetes drug
On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Invokana (canagliflozin) tablets to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. Invokana has been…
FDA approves new drug for COPD
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved roflumilast, an oral drug that reduces exacerbations from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Read more…
FDA approves new drug for irritable bowel syndrome and constipation
On Aug. 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Linzess (linaclotide) to treat chronic idiopathic constipation and to treat irritable bowel syndrome…
FDA approves new drug for lupus
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Benlysta (belimumab) for treatment of lupus. The FDA last approved a drug for lupus in 1955.…
FDA approves new drug for osteoporosis
On June 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Prolia (denosumab), an injectable treatment for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who are at…
FDA approves new drug for schizophrenia
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Latuda (lurasidone HCL) tables for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia. Read more here.
FDA approves new drug treatments for type 2 diabetes
On Jan. 25, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three new related products for the treatment of type 2 diabetes: Nesina…
FDA approves new implantable hearing device
On March 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first implantable device for people 18 and older with severe or profound…
FDA approves new implanted hearing system
On March 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of the Esteem, an implanted hearing system for moderate to severe sensorineural…
FDA approves new indication for imaging agent
On June 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a new use for Lymphoseek (technetium 99m tilmanocept) Injection, a radioactive diagnostic imaging agent…
FDA approves new silicone breast implant
On Feb. 20, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically Shaped Silicone-Gel Filled Breast Implant for…
FDA approves new stent for treatment of pseudocysts of the pancreas
On Dec. 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed marketing of the AXIOS Stent and Delivery System for treating pseudocysts that form…
FDA approves new treatment for genetic coagulation disorder
On Dec. 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tretten, Coagulation Factor XIII A-Subunit (Recombinant), the first recombinant product for use in…
FDA approves new treatment for metastatic melanoma
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Yervoy (ipilimumab) for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma. Read more at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm1193237.htm.
FDA approves Omontys for anemia in dialysis patients
On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Omontys (peginesatide) to treat anemia in adult patients who had chronic kidney disease…
FDA approves Osphena for postmenopausal women with dyspareunia
On Feb. 26, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Osphena (ospemifene) to treat women with moderate to severe dyspareunia (pain during…
FDA approves Perjeta for late-stage breast cancer
On June 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Perjeta (pertuzumab), a new anti-HER2 therapy, to treat patients with HER2-positive late-stage breast…
FDA approves Pomalyst for advanced multiple myeloma
On Feb. 8, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pomalyst (pomalidomide) to treat patients with multiple myeloma whose disease has progressed…
FDA approves seasonal flu vaccine made using novel technology
On Jan. 16, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Flublok, the first trivalent influenza vaccine made using an insect virus (baculovirus)…
FDA approves Simponi for ulcerative colitis
May 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new use for Simponi (golimumab) injection: to treat adults with moderate to severe…
FDA approves Synribo for chronic myelogenous leukemia
On Oct. 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Synribo (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) for the treatment of adults with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Synribo…
FDA approves test to distinguish between MRSA and MSSA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the first test that can quickly distinguish between methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin…
FDA approves treatment for hereditary angioedema
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Firazyr (icatibant) Injection for the treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema in people ages…
FDA approves Xeljanz for rheumatoid arthritis
On Nov. 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xeljanz (tofacitinib) to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who…
FDA clears STERIS system
On April 5, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the STERIS System 1E Liquid Chemical Sterilant Processing System. The device is used to…
FDA expands access to artificial heart valve to inoperable patients
On Sept. 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved revised labeling for the Sapien Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV), making the device available…
FDA expands Zytiga’s use for late-stage breast cancer
On Dec. 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the approved use of Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) to treat men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate…
FDA halts Avandia trial enrollment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified GlaxoSmithKline that the post-marketing trial of Avandia (rosiglitazone) is on “partial clinical hold,” meaning no new…
FDA issue draft guidance on making opioids harder to abuse
On Jan. 9, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance document to assist industry in developing new formulations of…
FDA issues final guidance for mobile medical apps
On Sept. 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued final guidance for developers of mobile medical apps. The agency has cleared about…
FDA issues safety communication for HeartStart AEDs
On Nov. 25, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication stating that certain HeartStart automated external defibrillator (AED) devices made…
FDA looks to improve medical device review process
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to implement changes in 2011 designed to improve review of medical devices. Read more at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm240418.htm.
FDA permits marketing of dengue fever test
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing marketing of the first test to help diagnose people with signs and symptoms of dengue fever.…
FDA permits marketing of device to seal lung punctures
On Dec. 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed marketing of the Bio-Seal Lung Biopsy Tract Plug System, a device that seals punctures…
FDA proposes new policy for some devices
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new policy that reduces premarket notification requirements related to devices that have had their…
FDA recommends healthcare facilities take steps to protect against medical cyberattack
On June 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that medical device manufacturers and health care facilities take steps to ensure that…
FDA releases draft guideline related to nanotechnology
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released “Considering Whether an FDA-Regulated Product Involves the Application of Nanotechnology,” a draft guidance document available for…
FDA seeks advice on metal-on-metal hip replacements
On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that a two-day expert advisory panel meeting on metal-on-metal hip replacement systems will…
FDA warns against Evital
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to take the emergency birth control medicine labeled as Evital, which may not…
FDA warns of potential risk of liver injury in ADPKD patients taking Samsca
On Jan. 25, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified healthcare professionals of significant liver injury associated with the use of Samsca in…
FDA warns of risk of surgical mesh used to repair pelvic organ prolapse
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning for surgical placement of mesh through the vagina to repair pelvic organ transplant. Adverse…
Fecal microbiota transplantation: Breaking the chain of recurrent C. difficile infection
The author describes an innovative technique that is helping patients with C. difficile infection, including patient selection; care before, during, and after the procedure;…
Genetic research sheds light on common complex diseases
Using new tools, researchers are exploring complex disorders in which genes and the environment strongly interact.
Genetic/Genomic Competency Center
The Genetic/Genomic Competency Center (G2C2, http://www.g-2-c-2.org/) is a new free online resource created to help educators teach the next generation of nurses and physician…
Genetics and ethics in health care and nursing
Review these excerpts from anew book on genetics and ethics in health and nursing.
Get on board the technology express
“Technology: No place for wimps!” —Scott Adams, “Dilbert” cartoonist Technology surrounds us, supports us, and sometimes smothers us. It is indeed no place for…
Get Savvy to syncope
Syncope is a common occurrence and is commonly benign. But sometimes a swoon signals a serious underlying condition. Learn what causes syncope and how…
High-fidelity patient simulations: A classroom learning tool
More nursing schools are using computerized manikins to help students gain skills and develop clinical judgment.
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.
How inflammatory markers refine CV risk status
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) originates from atherosclerosis, a disease in which low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles build up in the arterial wall.
How integrated information systems will change health care
Integrated and interoperable information systems mean patient data entered by one healthcare provider can be shared by provciders across the entire care continuum. This…
How nurses drive rapid electronic records implementation
Nurses in one large healthcare system are involved at all levels of EHR implementation
How to identify atrioventricular blocks
These arrhythmias can be tricky to interpret on a rhythm strip. The author guides you through the basics.
How to implement the electronic health record in undergraduate nursing education
At schools that have integrated electronic health records into the curricula, students learn the importance of entering, managing, and using data to produce information…
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: Not just another device
Increasing numbers of patients at risk for sudden cardiac death are receiving ICDs for primary prevention. This article explains how ICD therapy has grown…
Improving how we use and respond to clinical alarms
Nuisance alarms, false alarms, and hard-to-identify alarms can imperil patient safety. The author describes ways to manage clinical alarms more efficiently. This article is…
Inhaled therapies for cystic fibrosis: Current and future trends
Several therapies are available to help patients with this progressive disease who develop airway infections.
Innovations in patient-monitoring systems
With Bluetooth devices, system interfaces, and other high-tech advances, clinicians can make more accurate and timely treatment decisions. This article is available to American…
Issues up close
With the persistent focus on maintaining high childhood immunization rates, it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of adult immunization. But nurses must…
Issues up close
ANA’s “Bringing Immunity to Every Community” campaign aims to boost RNs’ knowledge of immunization, encourage them to get vaccinated, and position them as leading…
Keeping cardiac arrest patients alive with therapeutic hypothermia
Create a protocol for this lifesaving intervention at your facility.
Letters to the Editor – November 2008
Easy and inexpensive Thank you for Susan Fetzer’s excellent article, “Putting a stop to postop nausea and vomiting,” in the August issue. One treatment…
MARS®: The new frontier in treating acute liver failure
A type of dialysis, MARS removes toxins and replaces lost liver functions.
Maximize your reprocessing program
Reprocessing can help an organization save money and protect the environment.
Metronidazole recall announced
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Teva Pharmaceuticals, USA is voluntarily recalling Metronidazole Tablets USP, 250mg, lot 312566, expiration date 05/2012…
Microalbumin: Little test, big payoff
The earlier renal disease is detected, the better. That’s why the microalbumin test is so important for patients with certain chronic conditions.
Mitral valve repair: A new choice
Learn the advantages of repairing a mitral valve instead of replacing it.
Mumps on the rebound
After decades of dormancy, mumps is back and could be making an appearacne soon at a clinic or hospital near you.
Myasthenia gravis: An update
Learn more about this common disorder of neuromuscular transmission and its affects on patients
New colorectal screening guidelines
Screening for colorectal cancer is still underused, especially by low-income people, the uninsured, Asians and Hispanics, foreign-born people, and those with limited English-language skills…
New lupus drug one step closer to approval
An advisory panel has recommended the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve Benlysta; it would be the first new drug approved to treat Lupus…
New minimally invasive technique treats acute DVT
Pharmacomechanical thrombectomy removes dangerous clots to restore healthy function in hours.
New MRI technique may help in early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease
Researchers have developed a simple MRI technique that may help in the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Read more and read the study abstract.
New needle-free jet injection device offers improvement over similar devices
Researchers at MIT have developed a needle-free injection device to deliver drugs. The device offers greater control than previous devices for regulating delivery volume…
New online resource: Genetic/Genomic Competency Center
The Genetic/Genomic Competency Center (G2C2, http://www.g-2-c-2.org/) is a new free online resource created to help educators teach the next generation of nurses and physician…
New pain drug developed
Researchers have developed a new opioid drug, UMB 425, which is as strong as morphine, but has reduced tolerance over time and no obvious…
New report on health information exchange released
“Secrets of HIE Success Revealed: Lessons from the Leaders,” a report released by the National eHealth Collaborative, features 12 case studies of mature health…
New report on how mobile devices are transforming health care
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…
Nicotine-free inhaler helps stop smoking
In a study of 120 smokers, those who saw handling of the cigarette as an important part of smoking and used a nicotine-free inhaler…
NIH plans new center for promoting drug development
A National Institute of Health (NIH) advisory board has approved the creation of National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, a move intended to accelerate…
Nurse leaders discuss the nurse’s role in driving technology decisions
In an AMNT roundtable, executives discuss the value of engaging frontline nurses in technology decisions, explore the chief nursing officer’s role in technology selection,…
Nursing leaders hold the key to translating genomics into practice
A survey of attitudes, knowledge and genomic competency
OTC asthma inhalers with CFCs will not be available after 2011
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that over-the-counter (OTC) asthma inhalers containing chloroflouorocarbons (CFCs) will no longer be made or sold after…
Our Readers Respond
Family initiated rapid response team After reading the article “Family initiated rapid response team (FIRR)” by Ehrig S., Hepburn, J., Riley, P., and Smolen,…
Overcoming obstacles to vaccination
More children are going unvaccinated these days. This article can help reverse this worrisome trend.
Paperless in the United Kingdom: National Health Service goal for 2018
The National Health Service must embrace technology to meet the challenges it faces.
Patient handling: Fact vs. Fiction
Although the hazards of manual patient lifting and transferring are well known, misinformation persists.
Peril on Periphery
Peripheral arterial disease is all too common – and all too often goes unrecognized.
Pertussis resurgence continues unabated
American Nurse Today…Online reported on the nationwide pertussis, or whooping cough, outbreak in June. Unfortunately, four months later, the updated news is not good.…
Pharmacology review: Drugs that alter blood coagulation
Brush up on your knowledge of these potentially life-saving drugs.
Placebos without deception effective for IBS
An open-label study of 80 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) found that those who knew they were receiving a placebo still experienced improvements,…
Prealbumin testing for early malnutrition detection
Malnutrition is surprisingly common in hospital patients-but detecting it can be easy when prealbumin levels are measured This article is available to American Nurses…
Preparing for electronic health records in the UK
The transition to a paperless health system is a chance for nurses to shape the technology.
Progress report: Electronic health records and HIT in the United States
Electronic health records, HIT, and nursing informatics are transforming American health care.
Propoxyphene taken off market
Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which makes Darvon and Darvocet, the brand versions of the prescription pain medication propoxyphene, has agreed to withdraw the medication from…
Protect yourself and your patients with vaccination
Why is immunization so crucial for nurses? Which vaccinations should all nurses get? Find out with this educational handout focusing on national efforts to…
Providing optimal care for patients with central catheters
Confused about central catheters? Here’s what you need to know.
Pulse oximetry: An essential tool for the busy med-surg nurse
Pulse oximetry helps med-surg nurses meet the challenge of caring for the greater numbers of acutely ill patients they’re seeing.
Quiz Time
A nurse working in the intensive care unit administers 100 mg of diazepam I.V. as ordered by the new resident. Although she checks on…
Quiz Time
Which of the following is an advantage of a dry-suction chest drainage system? a. Lower levels of suction pressure b. Variable bubbling, which indicates…
Quiz Time
A goal of the induction phase of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest is to: a. quickly warm the patient to target body temperature. b.…
Radiation therapy 101
More than half of cancer patients get radiation therapy. This article gives a basic overview of this potentially life-saving treatment, discusses nursing interventions for…
Reading the alert
Here’s the part I want you to consider. None of these tools, rule-based or AI-based, diagnose anything. They’re not telling you what’s wrong with…
Recall of MedStream Programmable Infusion Pump and Refill Kits
On Oct. 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted that Codman & Shrutleff, Inc., has recalled its MedStream Programmable Pump and MedStream…
Recall of metoclopramide and ondansetron injections
On Oct. 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted that Hospira has recalled one lot of metoclopramide injection and two lost of…
Recent advances in cardiac diagnostic and surgical procedures
New techniques expand the options for high-risk patients and cause fewer complications than conventional surgery.
Seasonal influenza immunization for healthcare workers gains attention
Flu season approaches. Protect yourself and your patients by getting immunized.
Seasonal influenza vaccination and the nurse
Seasonal influenza vaccination and the nurse We are about to enter the seasonal influenza vaccination year. There continues to be concern, and rightly so,…
Single sigmoidoscopy screen reduces colorectal cancers
Undergoing a single screening sigmoidoscopy between ages 55 and 64 reduced the incidence of colorectal cancer according to a study of 34,272. Read more.
Six more hot drugs for today and beyond
These six drug profiles, along with the six in the March issue of American Nurse Today, bring you up to date on significant advances…
Standardizing handoff communication
Although adverse events can occur anytime during hospitalization, handoff communication is often the cause of avoidable adverse events. Miscommunication, care continuity disruption, critical data…
Stenvig appointed to National Vaccine Advisory Committee
Thomas Stenvig, PhD, MPH, RN, CNAA-BC, has a long and distinguished career in immunization and public health. And now, he has a new achievement…
Stroke and the Rise of Telehealth – What Nurses Need To Know
Telehealth in stroke care “One minute the patient is completely fine and then blood flow to the brain is disrupted,” says Dr. Mona Bahouth.…
Study finds LTRA as effective as inhaled steroids in first-line asthma management
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treatment with a leukotriene-receptor antagonist (LTRA) was as effective as inhaled glucocorticoid therapy…
Study: Flu shots reduce risk of MI in middle-aged people with narrowed arteries
A study in Heart has found another benefit of influenza vaccination: It may reduce the risk of myocardial infarction in middle-aged (50 to 64…
Study: Flu vaccine prevented millions of illnesses in past 6 years
According to “Influenza Illness and Hospitalizations Averted by Influenza Vaccination in the United States, 2005–2011,” published in PLOSOne, vaccination prevented a minimum of 1.1…
Study: MRI may help diagnose bipolar disorder
According to a study in Psychological Medicine, MRIs may help diagnose people with bipolar disorder. The researchers correctly differentiated bipolar patients from healthy individuals…
Study: Natural compound may block effects of methamphetamine
Researchers at the University of Missouri have found that resveratrol may block the effects of methamphetamine. Read more.
Study: Radiation therapy skin reactions may be preventable
Severe skin reactions during radiation therapy could be prevented by applying a thin transparent silicone dressing to the skin from the first day of…
Study: Smartphone app valid cognitive dysfunction screening
The Stroop smartphone application (EncephalApp_Stroop) is a short, valid, and reliable tool for screening for minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), according to a study in…
Take Note – April 2007
A monthly round-up of clinical, practice, and career news, updates, and alerts.
Take Note – August 2007
Good news for younger women taking estrogen Estrogen therapy may have cardioprotective effects for women who start taking it in their 50s. A study…
Take Note – August 2008
Web exclusive! A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts at www.AmericanNurseToday.com
Take Note – February 2009
WEB EXCLUSIVE! A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts.
Take Note – July 2008
Measles outbreak Between January 1 and April 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received reports of 64 measles cases in nine states—the…
Take Note – June 2007
A monthly round up of clinical, practice, and career news, updates, and alerts.
Take Note – November 2006
American Diabetes Association releases food guidelines for specific medical categories “When you’re talking about diabetes, there is no ‘one size fits all’ diet,” said…
Take Note – Sept/Oct 2009
Patients lose when nurse staffing is insufficient Heavy workloads and insufficient staffing affect patient care, according to about 2,000 nurses surveyed worldwide by the…
Take Note – September 2008
Johnson & Johnson’s Campaign for Nursing’s Future In 2002, Johnson & Johnson launched the Campaign for Nursing’s Future to enhance the image of nursing,…
Technology, transformation, and the nursing workforce
Nursing informatics professionals are ready to lead the transformation to a technology-enabled healthcare environment.
Technology: The great enabler
Where would you be without a “smart” phone to manage your life? We’ve adapted to noxious ring tones; how have we adapted to technology…
The Avandia saga
Read an interesting editorial about Avandia here. A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel recommended keeping the drug on the market, but increasing warnings…
The disappearing inpatient
As hospital admissions shrink, nursing jobs are shiftingto other areas, such as outpatient offices, clinics, postacute facilities, and home care.
The Joint Commission: COVID-19 response and accreditation
Resources and advocacy to support healthcare organizations. Takeaways: The Joint Commission has taken actions to support health care organizations with accreditation surveys and certification…
The magnetic draw of information technology
With a shrinking workforce and more complex healthcare, how can nurses raise the bar on clinical excellence? One hospital uses health information technology to…
The role of pharmacogenomics in cancer
Oncology nurses have long appreciated that the “one size fits all” strategy—basing chemotherapy dosages on body surface area—for treating cancer does not work because…
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved two drugs
Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution, used to relieve moderate to severe pain in patients tolerant to opioids. liraglutide (Victoza), a once-daily injection for treating type…
Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest
Until recently, the outlook for patients who remained comatose after cardiac arrest was dire. But therapeutic hypothermia is turning the tide. Learn the facts…
Transforming care through health information technology
Editor-in-Chief Pam Cipriano interviews the nation’s health IT "czar" on nurses’ role in transforming health care through the electronic health record.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FA) approved Voraxaze (glucarpidase)
On Jan. 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FA) approved Voraxaze (glucarpidase) to treat patients with toxic blood levels of methotrexate because of…
Understanding end-tidal CO2 monitoring
This noninvasive technique gives early warning of respiratory compromise.
Understanding pain in patients with intellectual disabilities
Learn how to detect and manage pain in patients who may not respond to pain in expected ways.
Unite to Fight the Flu – Influenza Season Update
There is a saying that if you’ve experienced one influenza season, you’ve experienced one influenza season. Influenza is a highly unpredictable virus, and the…
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…
Using evidence-based practice to develop a swallow screen for stroke patients
The author takes the reader on her step-by-step journey that resulted in a change in practice.
Using technology to make evidence-based staffing assignments
Workforce-management software and operational integration help match the right nurse to the right patient at the right time.
USPSTF recommends hepatitis B screening for high-risk people
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released “Screening for hepatitis B virus infection in nonpregnant adolescents and adults,” which recommends screening in…
Vaccines, antivirals are crucial aspects of influenza strategy
To aid ongoing safety surveillance for the H1N1 vaccine, be sure to report patients’ postvaccination events. This article is available to American Nurses Association…
Vascular closure devices: What you know can prevent serious complications
Your knowledge and your patient teaching can be the difference between a quick recovery and a serious complication.
Viewpoint: Global healthcare worker influenza vaccination: To mandate or not to mandate
Should healthcare workers be required to obtain flu vaccines? The author presents both sides of the issue.
Virtual colonoscopy: A noninvasive look at the colon
Colonoscopy minus the colonoscope; accuracy without invasiveness. These are just a few of the benefits of virtual colonoscopy.
Virtual learning: Nurse leaders offer strategies for choosing online programs
Technology has touched nearly every aspect of Americans’ lives. It’s changed how people communicate, work, and learn. And while some nurses view the explosion…
Virtual technology prepares nurses for a hospital move
Virtual-building orientation teaches hospital staff how to navigate a new building even before the move takes place.
Warfarin therapy and pharmacogenomics: A step toward personalized medicine
How genetic testing ensures that patients start warfarin therapy at their personal-best doses.
What HIT means to healthcare professionals
When it comes to health information technology (HIT), every nurses has a stake in—and a piece of—the action. Let’s figure out how to make…
What Works: Improving influenza vaccination compliance in an academic medical center
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all healthcare workers receive the influenza vaccine. Here is how one medical center is working…
What you need to know about electronic documentation
Electronic health records (EHRs) are here to stay. Beginning January 1, 2014, all public and private healthcare providers were required to adopt and demonstrate…
Whooping cough makes an unwanted comeback
Have you ever heard a child with pertussis (whooping cough)? Chances are, thanks to decades of pertussis vaccines, you haven’t. Watch a video of…
Why continuous pulse oximetry monitoring is a must in critical care
Continuous pulse oximetry monitoring immediately alerts clinicians to hypoxemia in unstable critically ill patients, so they can intervene before tissue hyposia sets in. This…