Find out how to start a pressure ulcer prevention program on your unit or in your facility.
treatment
A new surgical intervention for reflux treatment
Learn about LINX, a surgical procedure for treating chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease.
A woman’s reproductive health: Clues to future heart disease?
Reproductive status, hormonal therapy, oral contraceptives, irregular menstrual cycles, and pregnancy complications may raise woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease.
Act fast against anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis can kill within minutes unless the victim receives immediate treatment. Calling a rapid response team to the scene can avert disaster.
Act fast against pneumothorax
Stop life-threatening pneumothorax with quick thinking and action.
Act immediately against anaphylaxis
An antibiotic infusion triggers a near-fatal reaction.
Anxiety attack or myocardial infarction?
The patient thinks she knows what’s causing her chest pain. Her nurse knows she must rule out myocardial infarction.
Are you prepared for malaria?
Global traveling brings about 1,000 cases of malaria to this country each year. Don’t be caught off guard if you encounter it in your practice.
Attacking anterior-wall myocardial infarction in time
More than 1 million Americans a year suffer a myocardial infarction (MI). This article tells you how – and how quickly – you need to respond to the most dangerous MI.
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.
Be prepared for poison ivy, oak, and sumac
The author clears up misconceptions and discusses treatment.
Calculating and interpreting the odds ratio
Researchers use the odds ratio to analyze which of two groups of individuals
is more likely to have an adverse outcome. Find out how to calculate the
odds ratio and interpret its significance
Calming a thyroid storm
Saving a patient’s life may rest on recognizing which findings are red herrings and which hold the key to the crisis.
Caring for individuals with sickle cell disease
Nurses play a pivotal role in ensuring optimal care. Takeaways: Sickle cell disease is an inherited chronic condition that affects…
Caring for patients with traumatic brain injuries: Are you up to the challenges?
Many patients face prolonged recovery and permanent disability after a traumatic brain injury. This article reviews appropriate assessment and intervention and highlights family care.
Catching on to C. difficle
Typically caused by antibiotic therapy, Clostridium difficile is now common in hospitals. Learn how to help stop the spread of this potentially fatal infection.
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…
Community-acquired pneumonia
Community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is exactly what it sounds like—a lung infection acquired while out and about in the world. The cause may be a virus, bacteria, or fungus. (See CAP stats.) community acquired pneumonia cap stats The estimated cost of treating CAP in the United States is about $12.2 billion a year. Inpatient treatment ranges from $7,500 to $10,227 per admission, whereas outpatient treatment ranges from $150 to $350 per patient. This difference demonstrates the need for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Consider a career as a wound, ostomy, and continence nurse
In 2008, hospitals, extended-care facilities, and home-health agencies will face these regulatory and patient-care issues: (more…)
CRRT spells success against acute renal failure in critically ill patients
Why critically ill patients with acute renal failure need continuous renal replacement therapy.
Dealing with the dangers of dog bites
Dog bites can cause serious or even fatal injuries. Find out how to assess and intervene when your patient has been bitten.
Deep-brain stimulation: Hope for dystonia patients
Deep-brain stimulation can make a significant difference in the lives of patients with dystonia.
Derailing disaster after pulmonary aspiration
Thanks to an alert nurse, an elderly patient avoids respiratory failure during her recovery from hip fracture surgery.
Detect compartment syndrome in time
Early recognition and action can save a limb.
Diagnosing and managing cough
Check out these highlights from the American College of Chest Physicians’ new guidelines.
Discovering and stopping hyperkalemia
Fast, focused assessment and action can stop this dangerous imbalance.
Don’t get ‘caught’ in the CAUTI trap
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), the most common healthcare-associated infection, can be deadly.
Dosing strategy may reduce toxicity of TB treatment
Giving patients with tuberculosis (TB) lower doses of the bedaquiline together with verapamil might lead to the same antibacterial effects…
Evidence-based interventions for constipation in patients with cancer
Editor’s note: One of a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society. Constipation is a…
FDA approves first biosimilar for treatment of cancer
On Sept. 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mvasi (bevacizumab-awwb) as a biosimilar to Avastin (bevacizumab) for…
FDA approves first two-drug regimen for HIV
On Nov. 21, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Juluca, the first treatment regimen containing two drugs to…
FDA approves new drug for acute myeloid leukemia
On Sept. 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mylotarg (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) for the treatment of adults with…
Fending off disaster for a frostbite victim
Without effective treatment, more than 40% of frostbite
victims require digital amputation. Can Jonathan’s toes
be saved?
Getting a grip on GERD
Most patients manage the heartburn, nausea, and belching of gastroesophegeal reflux disease with lifestyle changes and medications. But some may experience a dangerous symptom cluster that warns of more serious problems.
HAART and its effects on the heart
Many patients with HIV/AIDS are doing well on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Yet HAART can increase cardiovascular risks by reducing high-density lipoprotein levels, raising triglyceride levels, and causing insulin resistance.
Halting heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
This rare and sometimes hard-to-detect condition can jeopardize your patient’s life and limb.
Helping patients survive sepsis
In its early stages, sepsis can be difficult to detect.
Learn about the sometimes-subtle signs and symptoms.
Interstitial cystitis – chronic, common, and sometimes complicated to treat
Although painful and disruptive, interstitial cystitis often can be managed with drugs, bladder instillation and other procedures, and dietary changes. Most patients also need psychosocial support or professional counseling to deal with related stress, anxiety, depression, and frustration.
Lyme disease prevention and treatment
SCENARIO: When you meet your patient Tom for the first time, he reports fever, headaches, a rash on his stomach, and muscle aches.…
MARS®: The new frontier in treating acute liver failure
A type of dialysis, MARS removes toxins and replaces
lost liver functions.
Memory training improves plasticity in patients with MCI
Patents with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and who completed memory training had neural changes measurable with brain imaging, indicating their…
Osteoporosis-not just for women
Most elderly men don’t know they are at risk for osteoporosis-and they probably won’t find out until a nurse tells them.
Paget’s disease: A therapy update
Pain, arthritis, fractures, and skeletal deformities are calling cards of Paget’s disease. A new one-dose drug therapy can produce extended remission.
Peril on Periphery
Peripheral arterial disease is all too common – and all too often goes unrecognized.
Persevering against pediatric pulmonary hypertension
Despite recent gains in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension, a cure is a long way off. Diagnosis and therapy can be tricky, and prognosis remains poor. Still, there are ways nurses can help slow disease progression and improve quality of life for a child with this condition.
Phenytoin: Keep patients in the range and out of danger
When you administer paternal and enteral phenytoin (Dilantin), make sure your patient stays free from seizures and drug toxicity.
Pheochromocytoma: Not your everyday diagnosis
Recognizing this rare condition requires knowledge – and some creative thinking.
Polymyalgia rheumatica: A possible cause of pericardial effusion
Suspect polymyalgia in patients who continue to decline after treatment for pericardial effusion.
Post-concussive syndrome: What patients and providers need to know
Patients with traumatic brain injuries can suffer from this syndrome for months or even years after injury.
Pressure mapping: A new path to pressure-ulcer prevention
Pressure mapping shows you high risk areas, so you can take steps to help prevent pressure ulcers.
Prevailing over acute pancreatitis
How to manage this complex condition correctly to avoid severe complications.
Preventing airway obstruction
Complications of an anterior cervical fusion did not lead to an airway obstruction because of one nurse’s assessment skills and critical thinking.
Preventing hypovolemic shock
Identify the signs of hypovolemia and intervene before hypovolemic shock develops.
Preventing the high-pressure complications of abdominal compartment syndrome
Avoid multiple organ failure with early monitoring and early intervention.
Protect your patients from venous thromboembolism
How an evidence-based protocol for risk assessment and risk-based prophylaxis can decrease venous thromboembolism in your institution.
Putting the breaks on pulmonary edema
I.V. fluids should help a dehydrated patient, but for one with a history of atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease, they could contribute to pulmonary edema. For Grace Johnson, quick assessment and action staved off a poor outcome.
Quantum nursing IV: Giving the patient a “quantum edge”
Dr. Curtin explores the healing effects of focused intention.
Recognizing a ruptured right bronchial artery
Follow the signs and symptoms to this unusual source of life-threatening bleeding.
Recognizing spinal cord compression
For a postoperative laminectomy patient, sudden left-sided weakness and sensation loss warrant a STAT return to the OR.
Reversing neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Without quick thinking and a call to the rapid response team, this reaction to atypical antipsychotics can kill.
Reversing SIADH
When a cancer patient’s thirst increases and urine output decreases, suspect syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone.
Saving a snakebite victim
While hiking, Paul Sawyer, age 31, is bitten twice on the right hand by a rattlesnake. When he arrives at the emergency department (ED), the team obtains STAT laboratory tests, including a complete blood count, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, fibrin, chemistry panel, blood typing and crossmatch, urinalysis, and urine myoglobin.
Saving lives with continuous ST-segment monitoring
Manay dangerous ischemic events are clinically silent. Continuous ST-segment monitoring gives early warning of the silent ischemia that many other diagnostic methods fail to detect.
Sepsis: Stopping an insidious killer
How to recognize sepsis in time and use the therapies recommended by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign.
Severe pain: What’s the diagnosis?
Read this puzzling case history, and see if you can decide on the correct diagnosis.
Soothing the sorrow of psoriasis
You can help patients suffering from this chronic skin disease.
Spotting and stopping increased ICP
Rising intracranial pressure calls for fast action.
Springing into action: How one procedural area kept working during COVID-19
As COVID-19 hit Georgia in early March 2020, Emory University System made the difficult decision to stop all surgeries and…
Stopping bowel ischemia
Recognize and reverse this medical emergency.
Stopping the silent progression of osteoporosis
An update on risk factors, prevention, and treatment.
Suppressing a COPD flare-up
Nursing vigilance helps a patient with chronic obstructive oulmonary disease stave off respiratory failure.
Take Note – October 2007
Medicare to stop reimbursing hospitals for eight preventable conditions Medicare will stop paying hospitals for the extra costs of treating…
Taking action against acute COPD
Each year, emergency departments see about 1.5 million patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Update your knowledge of the disease and its treatment.
Taking action against air embolism
Air enters a patient’s central venous catheter site. It’s all down hill from there.
Team-based approach to behavioral health emergencies
Pre-defined roles and training can help address disruptive client incidents. Takeaways: Few hospitals have a formal plan to address combative…
The five P’s spell positive outcomes for ARDS patients
Protect your ARDS patients from danger with perfusion, positioning, protective lung ventilation, protocol weaning, and prevention of complications.
The multiple causes and myriad presentations of thrombocytopenia
This complex disorder takes many forms, has many causes, and is growing more common due to increased heparin
exposure. Learn how to help prevent it, identify it early, and manage both the disorder and its complications.
Turning the tide in a hypertensive emergency
When a patient’s blood pressure goes stratospheric, the first priority is to check for signs of organ damage.
Understanding core measures for heart-failure treatment
Use The Joint Commission core measures to improve the care of patients with heart failure.
Warfarin therapy and pharmacogenomics: A step toward personalized medicine
How genetic testing ensures that patients start warfarin therapy at their personal-best doses.
What every nurse needs to know about breast cancer
Breast cancer strikes 1 in 8 American women. This article discusses recent diagnostic and treatment advances (including some you may not know about) that may brighten the outlook for the nearly 180,000 American women diagnosed with the disease each year.
What’s the latest on lipoproteins
A new lab technique called segmented gradient gel electrophoresis identifies subclasses of cholesterol and more precisely predicts your patient’s cardiac risk.
When all signs point to long QT syndrome
A patient’s brief loss of consciousness leads to discovery of long QT syndrome. By thinking fast and making all the right moves, you can stave off the threat of torsades de pointes.
