The AJN Podcast

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with authors Xin Lin and Stacie Corcoran about their article, which provides an overview of Hodgkin lymphoma, the most common late effects of treatment, and current recommendations for survivor surveillance and screening.

This Month in AJN –  February 2019 monthly highlights

February 2019

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical editor Betsy Todd present the highlights of the February issue of AJN. The authors of our first CE, “Original Research: Midlife Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia in Relation to Cognitive Function Later in Life in Black Women,” sought to explore the relationship between two vascular risk factors in midlife—hypertension and hypercholesterolemia—and cognitive function later in life among black women. Our second CE, “Caring for Survivors of Hodgkin Lymphoma,” provides an overview of HL, the most common late effects of treatment, and current recommendations for survivor surveillance and screening. In our next article, “A Nurse-Driven Oral Care Protocol to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia,” the authors describe a QI initiative to implement an oral care protocol in the adult in-patient care areas of a level 1 trauma hospital and evaluate its impact on the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia. “Integrating Peer Review into Nursing Practice” describes how clinical nurses developed and successfully incorporated a peer review program within a busy nursing unit, strengthening professional relationships and practice. In addition, there’s News, Reflections, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, and more.

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with author Linda Koharchik about her article, which offers strategies for fostering grit—a trait marked by perseverance and resilience and associated with success—in nursing students.

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with author Blima Marcus about her article, which discusses why nurses should serve on boards, the barriers to doing so, and how these barriers can be overcome.

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with authors Ruth Ludwick and Kristin R. Baughman about their study, which surveyed RNs and LPNs working in skilled nursing facilities to learn about the similarities and differences in their advance care planning–related beliefs, sense of self-efficacy, education, and practices.

This Month in AJN – December 2018 monthly highlights

December 2018

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical editor Betsy Todd present the highlights of the December issue of AJN. The authors of our first CE, “Original Research: Advance Care Planning: An Exploration of the Beliefs, Self-Efficacy, Education, and Practices of RNs and LPNs,” surveyed RNs and LPNs working in skilled nursing facilities to learn about the similarities and differences in their advance care planning–related beliefs, sense of self-efficacy, education, and practices. Our second CE, “Managing Movement Disorders: A Clinical Review,” discusses the pathophysiology and assessment of three different, common neuromuscular disorders—muscle tightness, spasticity, and clonus—as well as the treatment options for each. In our next article, “Creating a Culture of Mobility: Using Real-Time Assessment to Drive Outcomes,” the authors describe how they implemented an intervention based on the use of three new assessment tools to promote awareness of the importance of early mobility among nurses and physical and occupational therapists on an inpatient orthopedic unit. “Transition to Practice: Delegating as a New Nurse” provides strategies new nurses can use and specific steps they can take to help them succeed in delegating tasks to LPNs/LVNs and unlicensed assistive personnel. In addition, there’s News, Reflections, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, and more

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with Gail Powell-Cope and Deborah Rugs, coauthors of “Patient Handling and Mobility Course Content: A National Survey of Nursing Programs.”

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with authors Martha A. Q. Curley and Sandy M. Quigley about their article, which offers guidance on use of the Braden QD Scale—a pediatric risk assessment instrument that reliably predicts both immobility-related and medical device–related pressure injuries.

This Month in AJN – November 2018 monthly highlights

November 2018

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical editor Betsy Todd present the highlights of the November issue of AJN. Our first CE, “Original Research: Patient Handling and Mobility Course Content: A National Survey of Nursing Programs,” examines what nursing programs teach students about lifting, turning, transferring, repositioning, and mobilizing patients. Our second CE, “How to Predict Pediatric Pressure Injury Risk with the Braden QD Scale,” offers guidance on use of the Braden QD Scale—a pediatric risk assessment instrument that reliably predicts both immobility-related and medical device–related pressure injuries. The author of our next article, “Looking Back: Nurses Fight for the Right to Vote,” shares the stories of four nurses suffragists—Lavinia Lloyd Dock, Mary Bartlett Dixon, Sarah Tarleton Colvin, and Hattie Frances Kruger—who were arrested for their involvement in the women’s suffrage movement. “Cultivating Quality: The Integrative Therapy Nurse: A Valuable Player in Symptom Management,” written by an RN with board certification in therapeutic massage and bodywork, describes how she implemented an integrative therapy initiative on the spinal cord injury and disorders unit at a Veterans Affairs medical center that resulted in decreased pain and increased relaxation among the veterans who participated. In addition, there’s News, Reflections, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, and more.