Diane Szulecki, editor, Author at Off the Charts

July Issue Highlights: Magnet vs. Non-Magnet Hospitals, Rapid-Response Team Activation Barriers, More

“Health care workers need a break. . . . a respite from trudging from room to room or house to house, donning and doffing gowns and masks and gloves . . .”—editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy in her July editorial, “In the Aftermath”

The July issue of AJN is now live. Check out the highlights:

Original Research: How Magnet Hospital Status Affects Nurses, Patients, and Organizations: A Systematic Review

The authors analyze the current evidence comparing Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals to determine whether different outcomes exist between them—and provide new information regarding the economic impact of Magnet recognition.

The Effects of Smoking on Bone Health and Healing

A review of the effects of smoking on bone health, the importance of smoking cessation among patients scheduled for or recovering from orthopedic surgery, and the vital role nurses play in supporting patient efforts to quit.

Special Feature: Perceived Barriers to Rapid Response Team Activation Among Nurses

This literature review explores the major barriers many nurses face in calling the rapid response team—and how those barriers might be overcome.

[…]

Diane Szulecki, editor2020-06-29T10:05:38-04:00June 29th, 2020|Nursing|0 Comments

June Issue Highlights: PPE Shortages, Opioid Use Disorder, More

“Nurses’ work has become powerfully visible.”—editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy in her June editorial, “Nurses: Courageous, Committed, and Fed Up”

The cover image of our June issue is a watercolor painting, Human, by Ohio artist Jim Leitz. Created in March, the painting is a tribute to the experiences of frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The June issue is now live, and features continuing coverage of COVID-19, plus many articles on other topics in nursing and health care. Here’s what’s new:

Original Research: The Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

The authors conducted a comprehensive review of the literature to explore the connection between these two significant public health issues. The evidence suggests a correlation and points to the need for more effective interventions.

Opioid Use Disorder: Pathophysiology, Assessment, and Effective Interventions

A review of the development of opioid use disorder, available screening tools, medical treatments, and behavioral interventions that have demonstrated efficacy in reducing substance use.

Back to Basics: Abnormal Basic Metabolic Panel Findings: Implications for Nursing

In this article in a new series designed to improve acute care nurses’ understanding of laboratory abnormalities, the author discusses important values in the basic metabolic panel, including the electrolytes potassium and chloride as well […]

Diane Szulecki, editor2020-05-26T09:23:33-04:00May 26th, 2020|Nursing|0 Comments

May Issue Highlights: Pain Management in Critical Care, ECG Interpretation Basics, More

“The reality of an insufficient health care workforce and underfunded health care system is all too evident. . . . Perhaps things will change after this, and we will be ready the next time. I hope so.”—editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy in her May Editor’s Note, “Life, Interrupted“

In case you’d like a break from COVID-19 headlines and want to keep up with some other nursing and health care topics, the May issue of AJN is now live. Here are the highlights:

Original Research: Exploring the Effects of a Nurse-Initiated Diary Intervention on Post–Critical Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

The authors examine how collaborative diary writing—by patients, visitors, and interdisciplinary team members—can affect the development of posttraumatic stress disorder and symptom severity in critical illness survivors.

CE: Managing Pain in Critically Ill Adults: A Holistic Approach

A review of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s PADIS guidelines—and how they go beyond the earlier PAD guidelines—in providing specific guidance related to assessment and management of pain, use of opioids in critical illness, and use of adjunctive analgesia.

New Series: Strip Savvy: A Case of Bradycardia and Extreme Fatigue

This is the first article in a new series on the basics of electrocardiography (ECG) […]

Diane Szulecki, editor2020-04-27T09:02:16-04:00April 27th, 2020|Nursing|0 Comments

April Issue: Career Choice Regret Among Nurses, Acute Care for Dementia Patients, More

“Nursing goes beyond measurable outcomes; it extends to the relationships between nursing staff and patients and their families that help them to adjust to their new normal.”—Andrew Dwight Reed, author of the April Reflections column, “A New Normal“

In case you’d like a break from 24/7 news of COVID-19 and want to keep up with some other nursing and health care topics, the April issue of AJN is now live. Here are the highlights:

Original Research: An Investigation of Career Choice Regret Among American Nurses

The authors surveyed a random sample of American Nurses Association members to find out the extent of career choice regret among U.S. nurses and whether burnout is an independent predictor.

CE: Acute Care for Patients with Dementia

This article describes the unique care needs of hospitalized patients
with dementia, highlighting evidence-based strategies and person-centered care principles nurses can incorporate into practice.
[…]

Diane Szulecki, editor2020-04-01T08:36:54-04:00April 1st, 2020|Nursing|0 Comments

March Issue: Brain Death Criteria Update, Inadequate Physical Activity in Female Cancer Survivors, More

“. . . there is no underestimating the power of meaning to bolster individuals and the power of meaninglessness to sap them of the will to go on.”—Henry Bair, author of the March Reflections column, “Waiting for Jerry”

The March issue of AJN is now live! Here are the highlights:

Original Research: Arthritis-Related Functional Limitations and Inadequate Physical Activity Among Female Adult Cancer Survivors

This study uses data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the extent to which functional limitations due to arthritis are predictive of low physical activity levels in female cancer survivors.

CE: Brain Death: History, Updates, and Implications for Nurses

The authors review the development of brain death criteria, describe recent controversies and criteria updates, and discuss considerations for nurses who care for patients declared dead by neurologic criteria. […]

Diane Szulecki, editor2020-02-24T09:40:14-05:00February 24th, 2020|Nursing|0 Comments

About Diane Szulecki, editor

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