Human Metapneumovirus: Another Important Cause of Respiratory Illness

Photo by Maria Kovalets/Unsplash

Respiratory viruses are part of our surrounding ecology, with rates increasing and decreasing across seasons and in accordance with the individual virus environmental preferences and human interactions. The SARS-CoV2 pandemic heightened international concern regarding respiratory virus presence and continues to serve as a stark reminder that illness anywhere in the world can have a profound impact on health in the United States. Recent surveillance information from East Asia and the United States have recognized an increase in a respiratory virus that may not be familiar to many, human metapneumovirus (hMPV or HMPV).

Human metapneumovirus is a respiratory virus that belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family, the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza viruses. Although hMPV was first identified in 2001, it has not gained as broad name recognition as other respiratory viruses and may still be unfamiliar to many.

This virus causes respiratory tract infections in people of all ages, but it is most common in young children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals. hPMV infections are common in late winter and early spring. By the age of 5, most children have been exposed to the virus; reinfections can occur throughout life, though they are generally less severe in healthy adults. […]

2025-02-03T13:49:44-05:00February 3rd, 2025|Nursing|0 Comments

‘Man Enough to Care’: The Growing Trend of Men in Nursing

When you hear the word “nurse,” what are the first three words that come to mind? There is no doubt that “caring” is one of them. Maybe “compassion,” “trusted,” or “hardworking.” But what about the nurse’s gender? It’s OK if you thought “female,” because you wouldn’t be alone.

Longstanding societal stereotypes have made it such that we associate women with the nursing profession. I myself fell prey to this stereotype early on in life. When I graduated from college, I was working at a hospital in New York City where I worked closely with both doctors and nurses, and even though my gut was telling me that nursing could be the right profession for me, every nurse I worked with was female. So instead of applying to nursing school, I decided to take post-baccalaureate premedical courses and went the physician route.

It wasn’t until I turned 28 in 2010 that I decided nursing was in fact the right profession for me. It was the obvious choice because I knew I had the attributes that make a great nurse. Knowing that I could make a real difference, I disregarded the fact that only 9% of nurses were male at the time, and I pursued an accelerated second […]

2025-01-28T09:56:44-05:00January 28th, 2025|Men in nursing, Nursing|1 Comment

Ultrasound-Guided IV Cannulation: And Other Recommended Reading from AJN’s February Issue

In recognition of American Heart Month, our February cover features Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (Broken Heart Syndrome), a painting by Amy Doerwang. See On the Cover to learn more.

The February issue of AJN is now live.

This month’s CE article, “Using Ultrasound-Guided Cannulation for Difficult IV Access in Medical–Surgical Patients: A Quality Improvement Project,” examines the impact of ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous (PIV) cannulation on the rate of first-attempt PIV access among patients with difficult IV access.

“Professional nursing organizations can play a significant role in educating and preparing nurses to work more effectively toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” write Janice Hawkins and colleagues in their Original Research article, “Nurses’ Perceptions of the Role of Nursing Organizations in Promoting Engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals: A Global Study.” Learn about their study findings here.

“Professional Licensure: Protecting Your Nursing Livelihood, Part 2,” the newest installment in a series on protecting one’s nursing license, outlines common causes of licensure discipline, the disciplinary process, and potential penalties.

“A Military–Civilian […]

2025-01-23T06:41:11-05:00January 23rd, 2025|Nursing|0 Comments

What’s On Your Mind? AJN Seeking Short, Persuasive Opinion Essays for Viewpoint Column

Call for Viewpoints!

Image from Thought Catalog at Unsplash

The American Journal of Nursing (AJN) is seeking submissions for our Viewpoint column – an opinion column that presents a clear point of view in a distinctive voice on a topic that may or may not be controversial. Opinion, reflection, debate, and musing are all acceptable in this column. First-time writers welcome.

See our guidelines here: https://edmgr.ovid.com/ajn/accounts/Viewpoint.Guidelines.AJN.Dec.2022.doc

2025-01-17T11:14:49-05:00January 17th, 2025|Nursing|0 Comments

Norovirus, a Formidable and Underappreciated Hazard: What Nurses Need to Know

Norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes acute gastrointestinal illness, is making its presence known across the United States. Symptoms typically begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure and last one to three days and include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain.

During the last half of 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported close to 500 norovirus outbreaks, a significant increase when compared to the same time period in 2023. These outbreaks have occurred in health care facilities, restaurants, schools, and cruise ships and are continuing to occur in 2025. Norovirus is also the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States, but it is not simply a foodborne or food contamination issue. In fact, norovirus transmission is more complex—and therefore often underappreciated in its impact on human health, including patients and health care workers.

The vulnerability of health care settings to norovirus.

Based on electron microscopic imagery, this illustration provides a 3D, graphical representation of a number of norovirus virions. CDC/ Jessica A. Allen

Let’s look at some of the reasons why norovirus […]

Go to Top