January Issue: Best Practices for PIVC Management, CAUTI Prevention, More

“Growing, evolving, and progressing are part of the natural order of things. In my almost 40 years as an RN, I have seen enormous evolution and elevation of nurses in the delivery of health care.”—AJN editor-in-chief Carl Kirton in this month’s editorial, “Evolution in a New Year”

The January issue of AJN is now live. Here’s what’s new. Some articles may be free only to subscribers.

The Year in Review: 2022

The top health care, clinical, and policy news stories of the year, plus stories to watch in 2023.

Original Research: Practice Variations in Documenting Neurologic Examinations in Non-Neuroscience ICUs

This study explored existing practices for documenting neurologic examinations by RNs and providers in medical, surgical, and cardiovascular ICUs, which don’t routinely admit patients with a primary neurologic injury.

CE: Evidence-Based Practice for Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Management

The authors discuss the evidence for the appropriate use of short PIVCs in hospitalized patients, assess the ongoing need for PIVCs, provide recommendations for alternative options, and argue for promptly removing a PIVC that is no longer in use.

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2022-12-27T10:14:58-05:00December 27th, 2022|Nursing|0 Comments

October Issue: Substance Use Among Nurses, RN Involvement in Staffing Policymaking, More

“Under my leadership—like that of the editors before me—these pages will serve to document and transform clinical practice and provide a space for nurses to contribute their voices to matters affecting our world today.”—AJN editor-in-chief Carl Kirton in this month’s editorial

The October issue of AJN is now live. Here’s what’s new. Some articles may be free only to subscribers.

CE: The Impaired Nurse

A guide to early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of substance-related disorders among colleagues in the workplace.

Original Research: ‘It Would Be Nice to Think We Could Have a Voice’: Exploring RN Involvement in Hospital Staffing Policymaking

This qualitative study examined staff nurses’ perceptions of factors that hinder or support nurse involvement in hospital nurse staffing policymaking—and how nurses are, or would like to be, so involved.

Historical Feature: A Long History of Abortion

In response to the Supreme Court’s decision ending the nationwide right to abortion, the author takes a close look at abortion in American history and AJN’s archives, including the various roles played and challenges encountered by nurses.

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2022-09-26T08:56:14-04:00September 26th, 2022|Nursing|0 Comments

A Long History of Abortion

Looking to the past for context and perspective as the U.S. abortion care landscape changes dramatically.

The Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade ended women’s nationwide legal right to abortion after nearly 50 years.

Photo by Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash

Several states with so-called trigger laws banning abortion moved to implement these immediately. Although some of these laws have since been challenged in court, within a few months it’s expected that women living in about half the states will have very limited or no access to abortion care. Most of these laws—predominantly in the Midwest, South, and Plains states—make no exception for rape or to safeguard a woman’s health, until she is at risk of death.

Limiting health care access amid rising maternal mortality rates.

These restrictions on women’s health care occur while the U.S. continues to have a maternal mortality rate much higher than in other developed nations. According to the latest statistics from the CDC, this rate is rising, and health disparities persist: Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared with White women.

Women who have historically been most marginalized will be disproportionately affected by the Supreme Court’s decision, which is expected to […]

AJN News: A Role for Nonmedical Workers, Adult Vaccinations Revisited, Teen Pregnancy Drop, More

AJN’s monthly news section covers timely and important research and policy stories that are relevant to the nursing world. Here are some of the stories you’ll find in our current issue (news articles in AJN are free access):

A community health worker meets with a patient in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo by Francis Ying / KHN.

Nonmedical Workers: A Growing Asset to Communities

Outcomes improve, costs drop, and nurses’ workloads benefit when nonmedical community health workers are available to serve as liaisons between health systems and patients. Programs to train more of these workers are gaining attention in states across the country.

Revisiting the Adult Vaccination Schedule for Tetanus and Diphtheria

Results of a new study reveal that most adults remain protected from the two diseases for 30 years without booster vaccination—and call into question the potential benefits of a modified adult booster vaccination schedule.

Teen Pregnancies, Births, and Abortions Slow

Two new reports show that the birth rate among U.S. teens has dropped to its lowest point in three decades; the percentage of teen pregnancies ending in abortion also reached a historic low. Researchers attribute the downward trend to teens using birth control more often and waiting […]

From Flu Vaccine to Abortion Rights: The Same Argument?

By Shawn Kennedy, MA, RN, AJN interim editor-in-chief

bv alvi2407/via flickr

There’ve been articles, blog posts, a court ruling in New York State halting mandatory H1N1 vaccinations for health care workers, and last week a suspension of the mandatory vaccinations by Governor Paterson (who explained the decision in terms of the vaccine shortage). Earlier this month, we ran a poll on this site related to whether or not nurses and other health care workers who work as direct caregivers should be mandated to receive the flu vaccine.  In reading the poll results, I notice that many of the arguments against mandatory vaccination focus on the right to decide about one’s own body—a powerful argument, indeed.

It did make me wonder: do those who stand by this reason for not getting an H1N1 vaccination shot (or nasal mist) recognize that this argument—that one has a right to determine what happens to one’s body—is the same argument used by women who want to choose whether to have a baby or not? At the very least there’s an interesting parallel, even if some people I’ve pointed this out to don’t seem to agree. I’d like to know if others feel there is a difference—and if so, what?

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2016-11-21T13:21:29-05:00October 26th, 2009|Nursing|6 Comments
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