About Diane Szulecki, editor

Editor, American Journal of Nursing

AJN in February: Latino RNs in the U.S., Nurse Bullying, Hypoglycemia in Older Adults, More

AJN0216.Cover.OnlineOn this month’s cover, nurse Sarah Carruth comforts a young patient at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. This photo is the second-place winner of AJN’s 2015 Faces of Caring: Nurses at Work photo contest, in which readers worldwide submitted candid photos of nurses on the job.

When the child’s parents had to leave the room and he became unsettled, Carruth held him and comforted him with a stuffed toy. She says the photo captures the important type of quiet moment that often gets lost in the bustle: “It can be so busy that you forget about the times when you get to show that you care.”

Having worked as a pediatric nurse for 15 years, Carruth knows that meeting the emotional needs of children is a crucial aspect of caring for them. “It’s not just about giving medicine and assessing vital signs,” she says. “They need the time to be loved.”

Some articles of note in the February issue:

Original Research: Latino Nurses in the United States: An Overview of Three Decades (1980–2010).” Latinos are underrepresented in the nursing workforce. The authors of this article find that while the overall number of Latinos has grown dramatically in the U.S. over the 30-year study period, the number of Latino nurses has not. As the Latino population in the U.S. continues to increase, nursing education programs and institutions will need to do more […]

2016-11-21T13:01:31-05:00January 29th, 2016|Nursing, nursing research|0 Comments

We Want You, or Someone You Know! Tell Us About Nurses Making a Difference

Uncle_Sam_(pointing_finger)Nurses in all settings are doing important work and making a difference, and we want to highlight them and the good work they do. AJN’s Profiles column highlights the diverse ways in which nurses contribute their leadership, compassion, and talent to enhance patient care directly in their institutions or through innovations in policy, research, or education that have had far-reaching impact.

Our profiles include:

We’re inviting suggestions for nurses to feature in Profiles. If you know of a nurse who is doing great work, let us know. Or if you have developed an interesting or unique program, tell us about it. […]

2016-11-21T13:01:32-05:00January 25th, 2016|Nursing|0 Comments

AJN in January: Year in Review, Fibromyalgia, Massage Redux, Fall Prevention, More

AJN0116 Cover Online

On this month’s cover, refugees clash with police as they attempt to cross the border into Macedonia from Greece. The photo, taken last August, depicts a chaotic scene that has become increasingly familiar as large numbers of migrants flee to Europe from the Middle East and Africa. At press time, the International Organization for Migration estimated that more than 832,000 refugees had crossed Europe’s borders by sea since January 2015. Many migrants, including those from Syria, are risking their lives to escape violence, destitution, and displacement caused by civil war.

Health concerns have arisen as Europe struggles to absorb the huge surge of arrivals. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), overcrowding in receiving facilities has led to unsanitary living conditions and instances of food- and waterborne diseases. But the journey itself also takes a toll: the WHO reports that injuries, burns, and psychological trauma are among the most frequent health problems refugees face. Those with chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension find their diseases worsened by the interruption of treatment, and women suffer from pregnancy-related complications and sexual health issues.

As policy makers grapple with responding to the influx, the crisis is likely to remain a key global political and health issue in 2016. To read about this and other top health-related news stories of the past year related to nursing and health care policy […]

2017-03-24T03:43:24-04:00January 6th, 2016|Nursing, nursing perspective|1 Comment

Top Health Story Picks of AJN Contributing Editors for 2015

By Diane Szulecki, AJN associate editor

Kelley Johnson by Disney | ABC Television Group via Flickr Nurse and Miss America contestant Kelley Johnson by Disney | ABC Television Group via Flickr

With the end of the year steadily approaching, AJN asked its contributing editors, editorial board members, and staff to share what they consider to be the most significant health care and nursing-related headlines of 2015 so far. Now it’s readers’ turn. See the top picks below and feel free to leave a comment to share your thoughts and additions to the list.

Clinical/Care Issues

  • The growing patient experience movement and the limitations of patient satisfaction measurements
  • The rise in chronic diseases due to lack of prevention efforts and unhealthy lifestyles
  • Substance abuse, including alcohol, prescription drugs, heroin
  • Vaccinations and issues regarding public trust of vaccines

Professional Issues

  • Nurses’ responses to critical comments made on The View and related ongoing discussion about the nursing profession’s image
  • Challenges and trends in nursing education: the shift toward advanced practice as a career path for many nurses and rapid growth in the number of DNP programs and applicants
  • Workplace stresses: staffing issues, moral distress, strain caused by an aging population with multiple comorbidities, plus an increase in the number of insured due to the Affordable Care Act

U.S Health Care and Health System Issues

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