Ajn The American Journal Of Nursing - Behind The Article

In our April issue, we give a nod to Earth Day (April 22) and its focus on the environment. The article, “Greening the ‘Proclamation for Change’: Healing Through Sustainable Health Care Environments” (free until May 8), by Laura Anderko and colleagues Stephanie Chalupka, Whitney Austin Gray, and Karen Kesten, highlights how hospitals can incorporate design elements and practices not only to reduce energy consumption and garbage, but to provide a healing environment for patients and staff.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the April issue of the American Journal of Nursing. AJN recognizes Earth Day with a cover photo of Phoenix Children’s Hospital new 11th story environmentally conscious patient tower for the calm and healing of patients, families, and staff. Our first CE is an original research article on mechanical prophylactic devices and their frequent misapplications. The second CE is on preventing and responding to acute kidney injury describing identifying signs and symptoms that can improve outcomes. And of course, there are other features, News, an AJN Reports on disparities in healthcare, Viewpoint, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, and more.

“Acute kidney injury is an independent risk factor for both prolonged length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality.” Incidence rates among patients in US ICUs ranges from 22% to as high as 57%. Vrtis talks with AJN editor in chief Shawn Kennedy about the importance of assessing early indicators and implications for nurses.

People with mental health issues are often labeled as mentally ill even though they may be functional and even successful in other areas. Author Sabella and AJN editor in chief Shawn Kennedy discuss how our view of mental illness focuses on definitions of pathology (which can change over time) and tends to be limiting in a holistic view of human reactions.

Sex in nursing homes? Why not. As author Katz explains, “we all have a fundamental need for touch and self-expression.” AJN editor in chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with Dr. Anne Katz about how most facilities haven’t addressed this issue and what might nurses and administrators consider.

While there’s been much in the literature about the importance of improving hand hygiene practices in acute care settings, there’s been little about this topic in the outpatient setting. AJN editor in chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with the lead author about this report on an intervention to improve hand hygiene practices among health care providers in two outpatient clinics.

Editor-in-Chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the March issue. AJN’s cover features a lithograph titled A Map of the Open Country of a Woman’s Heart, linking to this month’s CE, “Update on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women.” The second CE is an original research article that evaluates a hand hygiene campaign at two outpatient health care clinics. And of course, there’s News, an AJN Reports on the economy and nursing employment, a Viewpoint on advance care planning, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, and more.

Medication regimens in patients with Parkinson’s Disease may be complex, partly owing to the short one-to-two hour half-life of the primary medication, carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet). When these patients are subject to prolonged medication withholding because of NPO restrictions prior to surgery, symptoms become exacerbated quickly and patients can become agitated, hallucinate and suffer extreme rigidity. AJN editor in chief Shawn Kennedy discusses the findings of these two studies with the authors and the implications for nurses.

The article details how a public health nurse (Matthews) teamed-up with a mother (Moore) who lost her young son to SIDS. Together, they helped change Arkansas child-care licensing regulations to mandate safe sleeping practices. AJN editor in chief Shawn Kennedy talks with them and pediatrician David Matthews (husband of Rebecca and Moore’s pediatrician) about their successful public health initiative.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the February issue of the American Journal of Nursing. AJN’s cover features a color-enhanced X-ray showing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) developing in the lungs of an 83-year-old man, tying in with one of this month’s CE articles on “COPD Exacerbations.” The second CE is a qualitative original research article describing the perioperative experiences of patients with Parkinson’s Disease. And of course, there’s News, an AJN Reports on post-Sandy health care recovery, a Viewpoint on minorities in the nursing profession, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, and more.

We know that traditional health counseling for obese children and adolescents, in which we prescribe more exercise and better eating habits, hasn’t been all that successful. AJN editor in chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with Viewpoint author Bonnie Gance-Cleveland about her work with obese teens and their families that began with an initiative by NAPNAP in 1996 and has become her focus. She discussed using motivational interviewing as a collaborative approach to help families change.

While growth in many other professions have seen more balance in the sexes, this has not been true for nursing. Men still represent fewer than 10% of licensed RNs since 2000. AJN’s editor in chief discusses the issues with the authors (in photo, Bonnie Schmidt with Brent MacWilliams, and Michael Bleich), examining what factors might be barriers to more men becoming nurses and how might the professional change them.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the January issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month’s cover features male RN Tung Tran, as part of this month’s focus on men in nursing and the unique challenges they face in the field. This issue also offers two CE features. The first is an original research article highlighting the hazards of perioperative medication disruptions in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The second CE is a literature review of what gender-related issues male nurses experience at work. And of course, there’s News, an AJN Reports on navigating the PSA screening dilemma, our 2012 Book of the Year Awards Viewpoint, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, and more.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the December 2012 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month’s cover features Syrian children forced to flee from the violence in their country. This issue also offers two CE features: one on the importance of sufficient staffing during all shifts to avoid certain hazards. The second CE discusses missing incidents from wandering in patients with dementia. This month’s ethical issues column explores ethical nursing care for transgender patients, and our legal clinic column explains how nurses can protect their licenses. And of course, there’s News, an AJN Reports on global health worker shortages, Viewpoint, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, and more.

AJN’s editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy talks with author Meredeth Rowe about her CE feature article this month, in which she explains the difference between missing incidents in people with dementia, and dementia-related ‘wandering;’ a distinction that is critical to assessment, intervention, and prevention.

Many people erroneously consider depression to be an inevitable part of aging, but this is untrue. AJN’s editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy talks with author Cynthia Cahoon about her review article, in which she provides an overview of depression in older adults and offers information on screening, treatments and implications for nurses.

AJN’s editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy talks with author Donna Sabella about what has become one of the hallmark illnesses among returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans: PTSD.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the November 2012 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month’s cover features military veteran Jim Stanek and his service dog, Sarge, who’s eased Jim’s struggle with PTSD and traumatic brain injury. This issue also offers two CE features: one on recognizing and treating depression in older adults. The second CE explains the use and possible complications of needleless connectors for IV catheters. This month’s mental health column explores the current rise in PTSD among veterans and how nurses can recognize this condition. And of course, there’s News, an AJN Reports on helping veterans access specialty care, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, and more.

Brigadier General (RET) Bill Bester MSN, RN, NEA-BC speaks with editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy about health care for veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The majority of these new veterans will access care outside of the VA health system and it’s important that nurses in all clinical settings be aware of the health issues of this emerging population.

AJN’s clinical managing editor Karen Roush speaks with authors Mary Anne McCabe and Eileen Toughill about their article which explores treatments, testing, and symptoms of celiac disease.