The May issue of AJN is now live. Here are some articles we’d like to bring to your attention.

CE Feature: Original Research: Creating an Evidence-Based Progression for Clinical Advancement Programs

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) project have identified six nursing competencies and supported their integration into undergraduate and graduate nursing curricula nationwide. But integration of those competencies into clinical practice has been limited, and evidence for the progression of competency proficiency within clinical advancement programs is scant. Building on the competencies identified by the IOM and QSEN, the authors of this study developed eight nursing competency domains and 186 related knowledge, skills, and attitudes for professional nursing practice, then sought to validate them and to determine their developmental progression within a clinical advancement program.

CE Feature: Venous Thromboembolism: Updated Management Guidelines

Each year, as many as 900,000 cases of venous thromboembolism occur in the United States; between 100,000 and 300,000 cases end in death. This article presents an overview of venous thromboembolism—including its pathophysiology, risk factors, symptoms, and key clinical assessments—plus a review of recommendations from an updated American College of Chest Physicians guideline related to treatment options, nursing practice, patient education, diagnostic testing, and more.

Wound Wise: Deep Tissue Pressure Injury: A Clinical Review

Using a composite case study for illustration, the authors of this article describe the assessment, progression, treatment, and prevention of these serious, complex pressure injuries.

Supporting Family Caregivers: No Longer Home Alone: Discharge Planning and Teaching

This fifth installment in a series published in collaboration with the AARP Public Policy Institute provides evidence-based recommendations to facilitate caregiver discharge teaching, with the goal of reducing the risk of harm to elders and the stress faced by their caregivers. Includes a video for caregivers.

Environments and Health: Reducing Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals

This first article in a new series on the effects of the environment on health discusses Project TENDR, a collaborative initiative of scientists, health professionals, and children’s health advocates to promote chemical policy reform.

There’s much more in our May issue, including an AJN Reports that discusses what health care providers can do about gun violence, and a Writing for Publication article that reviews different types of journal articles and what editors are looking for. Click here to browse the table of contents and explore the issue on our website.

A note on the cover:

On this month’s cover, nurses and other health care professionals provide care to a patient in distress. While this scene is common in critical care settings, it’s becoming more common on medical–surgical units owing to the increased acuity of patients in hospitals and the use of rapid response teams.