Caring for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the community
Key takeways Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is important to manage symptoms. A combination of biologics and non-drug management of rheumatoid arthritis can slow…
Pain Management
Acute pain management in the trauma patient on chronic opiate therapy
Key takeaways Multimodal therapy is essential in treating acute traumatic pain for patients on opioid maintenance therapy. Patients on opioid maintenance therapy or with…
Improving nurses’ attitudes toward patients with substance use disorders
People with substance use disorders suffer not just from the disorder itself but also from discrimination. In a 2014 survey, more than half of respondents…
Managing chronic pain in cancer survivors
Key takeways Patients may experience cancer pain even after their cancer has been adequately treated and is in remission or cured. Proper assessment is…
Pain target: An innovative approach to pain management
Despite evidence-based guidelines for managing acute pain, multiple studies show that only about half of patients who experience moderate to severe pain obtain adequate…
Managing pain in frail elders
Managing pain in any older adult poses unique challenges. But older adults who are frail are more likely to experience chronic pain, acute pain, or both. What’s more, they…
Some thoughts on addiction
I recently wrote a posting related to nurses caring for patients with addictions in response to a Facebook posting exchange. Below is the exchange,…
Preventing medication errors by empowering patients
Preventable medication errors cost the U.S. healthcare system more than $21 billion annually, according to the National Priorities Partnership and National Quality Forum. This…
FDA approves new spinal cord stimulation system for pain
On May 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Senza spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system to help manage chronic intractable pain…
Preventing high-alert medication errors in hospital patients
Mistakes involving medications are among the most common healthcare errors. Medication errors lengthen hospital stays, increase inpatient expenses, and lead to more than 7,000…
What you should know about first-line pain medications
Safe, effective pain control hinges on a multimodal approach that addresses the cause of pain and uses medications and other interventions that relieve the…
Caring for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the community
Key takeways Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is important to manage symptoms. A combination of biologics and non-drug management of rheumatoid arthritis…
Acute pain management in the trauma patient on chronic opiate therapy
Key takeaways Multimodal therapy is essential in treating acute traumatic pain for patients on opioid maintenance therapy. Patients on opioid maintenance therapy…
Improving nurses’ attitudes toward patients with substance use disorders
People with substance use disorders suffer not just from the disorder itself but also from discrimination. In a 2014 survey, more than half…
Managing chronic pain in cancer survivors
Key takeways Patients may experience cancer pain even after their cancer has been adequately treated and is in remission or cured. Proper…
Pain target: An innovative approach to pain management
Despite evidence-based guidelines for managing acute pain, multiple studies show that only about half of patients who experience moderate to severe pain…
Managing pain in frail elders
Managing pain in any older adult poses unique challenges. But older adults who are frail are more likely to experience chronic pain, acute pain, or both.…
Some thoughts on addiction
I recently wrote a posting related to nurses caring for patients with addictions in response to a Facebook posting exchange. Below is…
Preventing medication errors by empowering patients
Preventable medication errors cost the U.S. healthcare system more than $21 billion annually, according to the National Priorities Partnership and National Quality…
FDA approves new spinal cord stimulation system for pain
On May 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Senza spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system to help manage chronic…
Preventing high-alert medication errors in hospital patients
Mistakes involving medications are among the most common healthcare errors. Medication errors lengthen hospital stays, increase inpatient expenses, and lead to more…
What you should know about first-line pain medications
Safe, effective pain control hinges on a multimodal approach that addresses the cause of pain and uses medications and other interventions that…