August Issue Highlights: Experiencing Racism in Nursing, Promoting Publications by Nurses, Much More

“Six of the nurses quit when they found out I was coming on because they said they would not take orders from me . . .”—nursing leader Bernardine Lacey on encountering racism in her career, as described in this month’s Historical Feature

The August issue of AJN is now live. Here are some highlights.

Original Research: Understanding Nursing Home Staff Attitudes Toward Death and Dying: A Survey

In this multisite study, the authors surveyed nursing home staff to gain insight into their perspectives on end-of-life care and to identify needs in such areas as pain control and palliative care education and training.

PANDAS: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infection

A review of the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders associated with strep infection, plus teaching points for parents and patients.

Historical Feature: ‘You Don’t Have Any Business Being This Good’: An Oral History Interview with Bernardine Lacey

This article details, in her own words, black nursing leader Bernardine Lacey’s experiences with racism in her childhood, education, and career.

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2020-07-29T09:27:02-04:00July 29th, 2020|Nursing|0 Comments
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Building Back Better: Constructive Nursing Regulation

As governor of the first COVID-19 epicenter in the country, Andrew Cuomo challenged New Yorkers to think about how the state could “build back better” after the crisis. As registered nurses with experience in health law and policy, we have recommendations for transforming the boards of nursing. The manner in which nurses are regulated must be reformed, not just in New York, but throughout the country. It must begin by understanding the dangerous environments in which nurses are working.

Staffing, safety issues affect both nurses and patients.

In May, for example, Governor Cuomo reported that 12.2% of health care workers in New York city had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 164 nurses have died, often because they lacked adequate personal protective equipment. But COVID-19 is not the only dangerous situation. Long-term and psychiatric care facilities, as well as hospitals, are often dangerously understaffed, exposing nurses to violence. Nurses and other workers have been attacked and sometimes killed because they lack necessary resources and protections. Workplace violence is a growing threat which has not been adequately addressed by health care managers and administrators. Danger to patients occurs when nurses are expected to accept assignments outside of their areas of expertise. Nurses cannot care for more […]

2020-07-27T07:08:18-04:00July 27th, 2020|Nursing, nursing career, nursing perspective, patient safety|2 Comments
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Every Frontline has a Backline: What Nursing Can Learn from Rugby

Photo credit: KJ Feury

Have you ever had a day at work that could only be fixed by an ice cream from your favorite creamery or by a hug from your best friend? Every shift during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic felt like this.

Unfortunately, because I work as an RN in a pediatric ICU at a large hospital in northern New Jersey, social restrictions that coincide with COVID-19 forestalled my usual comfort measures. After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and during my reassignment in the COVID-19 ICU, I could no longer truly “leave” work. Work came home and walked with me throughout my day.

Dozens of IV pumps lining hallways, countless boxes of gowns, gloves, masks, and rubber shoes scattering the unit; ventilator alarms sounding; coworkers with surgical caps and masks, only identifiable by their eyes. The once medical–surgical unit transformed into a critical care unit equipped to care for COVID-19 patients.

After donning and doffing personal protective equipment (PPE), giving medication, adjusting ventilators, and updating families, you leave your 12+ hour shift wondering if you did your best. In the chaos of an unfamiliar unit, caring for patients with an unfamiliar virus, did I do everything to create the best outcome for my patients?

Missing […]

2020-07-22T10:18:03-04:00July 22nd, 2020|COVID-19, infectious diseases, Nursing, nursing perspective, nursing stories, Public health|3 Comments
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Smoking, Orthopedic Surgery, and Bone Healing

When assessing a smoker who is scheduled for surgery, most of us will quickly zero in on their potential for complications from anesthesia. But what if the upcoming procedure is orthopedic?

Smoking is a well-known risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fracture, so it makes sense that it can be an issue in bone surgery healing.

In “The Effects of Smoking on Bone Health and Healing” in this month’s AJN, authors Stephanie Niu and Fidelindo Lim review the effects of smoking on bone health and healing and offer suggestions on how nurses might use this information to help people facing orthopedic surgery to quit.

“In addition to posing surgical and postsurgical risks for orthopedic patients, tobacco, nicotine, and other byproducts contained in traditional and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vaping products) adversely affect overall bone health and impede bone healing.”

Smoking associated with poor postsurgical outcomes.

Research has shown that smoking is associated with postop infection and poor bone fusion. It significantly increases time to union and risk of nonunion, and is significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes after surgery. […]

2020-07-20T09:16:45-04:00July 20th, 2020|Nursing|0 Comments
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Magnet Status Is Generally Better for Nurses and Patients

Discussed in this post: “Original Research: How Magnet Hospital Status Affects Nurses, Patients, and Organizations: A Systematic Review” (July, AJN)

Is the work it takes to become a Magnet hospital worth it?

The Magnet award recognizing excellence in nursing has been around for decades. It’s not an easy process, nor an inexpensive one—hospitals that apply invest a lot of time, effort, and money. There’s a considerable fee plus the expenses for the site visit appraisers, and many institutions designate or hire a Magnet coordinator whose job it is to ensure policies throughout the organization comply with Magnet requirements. It’s a huge undertaking. And while administrators may groan over the prospect of going through it, many hospitals do pursue it—there are over 500 Magnet-designated hospitals worldwide.

No institution is perfect, but Magnet does mean improved visibility for nursing.

I’ve had experiences, with friends or family, in both Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals. While I felt that overall patient care and responsiveness to patients and families was better at the Magnet facilities, there were also instances where things didn’t go quite the way they should. But in the harried hospital setting, I don’t expect 100% smooth sailing with every encounter with every nurse. What I have heard from several nurses who participated in their hospitals’ Magnet journey is […]

2020-07-13T12:40:55-04:00July 13th, 2020|Nursing|1 Comment
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Views expressed on the blog are solely those of the authors or persons quoted. They do not necessarily reflect AJN’s views or those of Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
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