Here are some of the news stories you’ll find in our current issue:

A new mother holds her baby in the neonatal intensive care unit of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Photo by Scott Keeler / Tampa Bay Times / The Image Works.

Benefits of Kangaroo Care for Premature Babies Continue into Young Adulthood

“Kangaroo care” involves skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding when possible, and early hospital discharge with close monitoring. A study that followed infants who were no more than 4 lb. at birth found that the benefits of kangaroo care remained 20 years later.

VA Grants Most APRNs Full Practice Authority

A new VA rule allows three types of APRNs to practice to “the full extent of their education, training, and certification” without physician supervision: certified NPs, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives. It’s aimed at improving access to care and reducing wait times for the more than 9 million veterans served by the VA.

A day care staff member helps a child wash her hands. Photo by Troy Harvey / Ventura County Star, a USA Network newspaper.

Inadequate Handwashing Practices in Childcare Facilities

A study of a day care center in Arkansas found that childcare providers and parents only washed their hands properly 22% of the time—underscoring the need for educational programs to increase handwashing.

Rollback of Michigan’s Motorcycle Helmet Law Tied to Increase in Head Injuries

In the 12 months following the 2012 repeal of its universal helmet law, helmet use in Michigan declined, and 14% more hospitalized riders had head injuries.

Rural Pregnant Women and Newborns Hit Hard by Opioid Crisis

According to a national study of data regarding births and deliveries between 2004 and 2013, there was a disproportionately higher increase in neonatal abstinence syndrome (also known as neonatal withdrawal syndrome) in rural compared with urban areas.

In addition, click here and scroll down to “In the News” for this month’s NewsCAPs (brief takes on timely health-related topics) as well as a recap of announcements from health agencies.