AJN‘s October issue is now available on our Web site. Here’s a selection of what not to miss.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections and a leading cause of death in ICUs. The authors of “Mouth Care to Reduce Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia” discuss the importance of oral care in infection control and offer an evidence-based, step-by-step guide to providing optimal mouth care for intubated patients. You can earn 2.3 CE credits with this article. If you’re reading AJN on your iPad, you can listen to a podcast interview with the author by clicking on the podcast icon on the first page of the article. The podcast is also available on our Web site.
The stress of hospitalization can lead to anxiety or agitation, especially in patients with psychiatric or cognitive disorders, putting them at increased risk for falls and self-harm. “Decreasing Patient Agitation Using Individualized Therapeutic Activities” describes a nurse-led quality improvement project that reduced agitation in patients suffering from cognitive impairment, delirium, and other behavior-altering conditions who were receiving continuous observation on a nonpsychiatric unit. Earn 2.4 CE credits by reading this article and taking the test that follows. Don’t miss the podcast interview with the author (click on the podcast icon on the first page of the article if you’re using your iPad, or visit our podcasts page).
Increasing patient satisfaction has become a critical goal for hospitals in the U.S. “Nursing Staff Innovations Result in Improved Patient Satisfaction” describes how nurses at one facility implemented and tested a variety of care practices to improve patients’ hospital experience and outcomes.
In a 2013 survey, 70% of U.S. pest control professionals reported an increase in bedbug infestations. “Bedbugs: What Nurses Need to Know” provides treatment, prevention, and patient-education strategies nurses can use when advising patients who have an infestation of bedbugs.
Other must-reads include an iNurse article on the ins and outs of finding, downloading, and listening to podcasts, an overview on opioid-induced neurotoxicity, and an investigative report on how nurses can help transgender children and teens.
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