Ajn The American Journal Of Nursing - Behind The Article

Clinical Managing Editor, Karen Roush, talks with Susan Letvak about her research on nurse’s presenteeism, the loss of productivity associated with working with health problems. Letvak discusses why presenteeism is prevalent in nursing, the impact it has on quality of care, and its economic costs. She gives nurses ideas on what can be done to decrease presenteeism – from the role of the bedside nurse to the organizational and policy levels.

In this interview, Karen Roush talks with Donna Sabella about her new column in AJN, Mental Health Matters. Sabella always knew she wanted to specialize in mental health and she shares her enthusiasm for this often maligned area of nursing. Sabella talks about the important role nurses have in providing mental health care and some of the rewards and challenges it presents. All nurses need to be able to recognize and respond to mental health needs, whether for a grief-stricken family member in the ICU or a patient with decompensated schizophrenia in the Emergency Department.

Clinical Managing Editor Karen Roush presents the highlights of the February 2012 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. There are two CE features: one is original research on presenteeism in nursing and its effect on self-reported quality of care and costs, and the other is a clinical article on bedside assessment of enteral feeding tubes. We introduce Mental Health Matters, a new column designed to give nurses in every setting the information, tools, and resources they need to provide quality mental health care. Other articles include an overview of the National Disaster Medical System, a Safety Monitor piece on preventing harm during vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery, a Policy and Politics piece on Accountable Care Organizations, News, Drug Watch, Reflections and more. There are also podcasts with the author of the research on presenteeism and the new mental health column coordinator.

Accidental hypothermia can be deadly, and as Davis points out in his article, it can happen quickly and go unrecognized. AJN’s Clinical Managing Editor, Karen Roush, interviews Davis about this condition and what nurses in every setting need to know to recognize and manage it when it occurs.

In her Viewpoint, Diers talks how we count nurses and points out the many places nurses can be found – places where they often aren’t counted and should be. AJN’s Clinical Managing Editor, Karen Roush, interviews Diers about why this is important and what nurses can do to make sure that they, and the many-faceted roles they take on, are counted.

Clinical Managing Editor, Karen Roush, presents the highlights of the January 2012 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. There are two CE features: one is original research on increasing the use of Smart Pump libraries and the other is a clinical article on accidental hypothermia. Other articles include a review of cardiac catheterization through the radial artery; a piece discussing information systems and decision support; and the first article in our new column, Critical Analysis in Critical Care, looking at CVP monitoring; News, Drug Watch, Reflections and more. There are also podcasts with the author of the Viewpoint on how we count nurses, and with the author of the article on accidental hypothermia.

Although she clearly supports breastfeeding as the evidence-based best practice for infant nutrition, Humphries wonders if nurses’ emphasis on breastfeeding may interfere with the nurse-mother relationship if mothers feel pressured or coerced. AJN’s editor-in-chief, Shawn Kennedy, interviews Humphries about her work and experience with mothers and implications for nurses.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy presents the highlights of the December 2011 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. There are two CE features: one is original research on paper as a vehicle for transmitting bacteria, and the other is a clinical article on sarcopenic obesity. Other articles include an update on influenza vaccination guidelines for the 2011-2012 flu season; a piece discussing effective care measures and how nurses are involved in determining them and collecting data; and the final article in our three-part series on supporting family caregivers; plus a Cochrane Corner on use of probiotics in treating diarrhea in children, News, Drug Watch, Reflections and more. There’s also a video as supplemental content to the caregiving article, and a podcast with the author of the Viewpoint on breastfeeding promotion.

Editor-in-chief, Shawn Kennedy, interviews Cindy Nigolian, one of the authors of the second installment in our series on supporting family caregivers. She provides context for her work, and emphasizes the importance of creating an environment conducive to learning, and the use of “teach-backs” to assure the caregiver understands needed concepts.

Editor-in-chief, Shawn Kennedy, interviews April Gerlock about her research on documentation of screening veterans with PTSD for intimate partner violence (IPV). She found that only one-quarter of these men – considered a high risk group for IPV – had screening documented. Gerlock also talks about how nurses in any setting can use brief encounters to screen for IPV and provides some suggestions for responding.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy presents the highlights of the November 2011 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. There are two CE articles: one is original research, examining how veterans with PTSD (a high risk group for intimate partner violence) are screened for IPV (researchers found only ¼ had screening documented), and the other is an article addressing traumatic injuries in older adults. Other articles include a companion piece to the original research which examines techniques nurses can use for screening for IPV; the second installment in our series on supporting family caregivers (with an accompanying video); an article on reducing 30 day readmission rates; AJN Reports on controversies around childhood vaccinations; plus News, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, and more. There’s also podcasts with authors Nigolian (the family caregiving article) and Gerlock (original research), providing context around their work.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy presents the highlights of the October 2011 issue of the American Journal of Nursing, which debuts a three part series on supporting family caregivers which will run through the end of the year. Each article has an accompanying video. There are two CE articles: one is original research, a systematic review of practices and provider and patient attitudes around deactivation of implantable cardiac defibrillators at the end of life, and the other is an article reviewing the evidence and calling for the abandonment of outdated preoperative fasting practices. Other articles include clinical features examining treatment options for patients with kidney failure and medication calculations, a column examining the ethical issues that may arise when best practices may not be so for particular patients, plus News, Drug Watch, Reflections, and more. There’s also podcasts with authors Levine (the family caregiving article), Russo (original research piece), and Crenshaw (preoperative fasting

Editor-in-chief, Shawn Kennedy interviews Jeannette Crenshaw about her work exploring the evidence for NOT supporting NPO After Midnight as a routine preoperative practice. She explains that it’s not just about allowing clear fluids because it’s safe, but “because it’s safer.” European physician and nursing societies all endorse recommendations for allowing carbohydrate-rich clear liquids – as well as other clear liquids – two to three hours before surgery, so why does U.S. practice lag behind?

Drawing upon her own experience when she suddenly found herself in the role of a caregiver and through her work with other family caregivers, Carol Levine became acutely aware that few caregivers really get what they need to prepare them for their roles as caregivers. In this first article in the series, she discusses with AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy how she became involved in working with caregivers and the importance of assessing the caregiver’s needs from the caregiver’s point of view. Also, see the accompanying video.

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy talks with the author about the scant research available and suggests ways to open discussions around this sensitive issue.

A national expert in disaster preparedness education and training, Tener Veenema speaks with AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy about the state of readiness of U.S. nurses to respond to disasters, and what work still needs to be done for the nursing workforce to be prepared.

The suicide rate among children and adolescents has steadily risen and many of these children are first seen in hospital EDs. Children’s Hospital Boston has developed a treatment algorithm to facilitate screening, assessment and intervention in the ED. AJN editor in chief Shawn Kennedy and senior editor Sylvia Foley discuss the case that prompted this article with authors Alexis Schmid and Frances Damian, as well as key points about pediatric suicide and what ED nurses need to keep in mind with these troubled children.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy presents the highlights of the September 2011 issue of the American Journal of Nursing, which features acknowledgement of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks: a cover painting by artist and nurse Charles Kaiman, a guest editorial and a special report interviewing several nurses whose lives were changed by the events of 9/11. There are also two CE articles: one is original research on patients’ experiences with blood transfusions, and the other is a case study on managing pediatric suicide in the ED. Other articles include a QI piece on establishing a unit-based nurse resource program in a community hospital, a column examining patient privacy in social media, and the final installment in our EBP, Step-by-Step series; plus News, Drug Watch, Reflections and more. There’s also podcasts with authors Veenema (guest editorial), Kaiman (cover artist), and Alexis Schmid and Frances Damian, two of the coauthors of the pediatric suicide CE article.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy chats with Charles Kaiman, an artist whose work has been featured over the years in AJN. Kaiman is also a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist who works with veterans suffering from PTSD. They discuss his cover painting, “America the Beautiful,” his recollections of 9/11, and how his work and his art balance each other.

As a FNP searching for evidence-based information for her female patients and then when seeking information for herself, Karen Roush found few science-based articles about managing osteoporosis. So she researched the literature and wrote about it for consumers, as part of a book on menopause, and now in this review article, which summarizes current evidence-based information on preventing and managing osteoporosis. This is the second article in Roush’s series on postmenopausal women’s health. Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy discusses the issues with author Roush.