The April issue of AJN is now live. Here are some of the articles we’re pleased to have a chance to publish this month.

CE: Original Research: Recognizing Delirium in Hospitalized Children: A Systemic Review of the Evidence on Risk Factors and Characteristics

Among the key findings of this review was that delirium is multifactorial,
related to treatment (such as mechanical ventilation) and to a hospital
environment (such as the pediatric ICU) that deprives patients of normal
sleep–wake cycles and familiar routines.

CE: Lyme Disease: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

The authors describe the clinical features of Lyme disease, the appropriate use of diagnostic tests, the recommended treatment, and evidence-based strategies for preventing tick-borne diseases nurses can share with patients.

Environments and Health: The Great London Smog of 1952

Over five days in December 1952, smog engulfed London, killing up to 12,000 people. This article discusses the disaster’s impact on human health and subsequent pollution legislation—including the U.S. Clean Air Act—and its implications for nurses today, as dangerous air quality events continue and environmental regulations are increasingly under threat.

Supporting Family Caregivers: No Longer Home Alone: Ostomy Care at Home

The authors offer practical guidance, including an informational tear sheet and an instructional video, for nurses in educating patients and family caregivers on performing ostomy and skin care at home. This article is one in a series published in collaboration with the AARP Public Policy Institute.

There’s much more in our April issue, including:

  • A Transitions article on retirement planning for nurses.
  • An AJN Reports on the use of simulation in nursing education.
  • A Policy and Politics column on states’ new ability to add work requirements for Medicaid recipients.

Click here to browse the table of contents and explore the issue on our website.

A note on the cover:

This month’s cover photo shows a child being cared for in the ICU at Fann Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. We chose this photo to call attention to an underrecognized issue among hospitalized children, delirium, which is discussed in the aforementioned Original Research CE.