The AJN Podcast

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with Linda M. MacIntyre, the chief nurse of the American Red Cross, about her article, which discusses how demographic shifts in the United States are creating a greater need for ethnically and racially diverse blood donors—and what nurses can do to help.

Editor-in-Chief Shawn Kennedy and Clinical Editor Betsy Todd present the highlights of the July issue of the American Journal of Nursing. On this month’s cover is an illustration of gastrointestinal microbiota. The authors of our first CE, “Health and the Human Microbiome: A Primer for Nurses,” provide an overview of the current state of knowledge about the human microbiome—with a focus on the microbiota in the GI tract and the vagina, the two most commonly studied body sites—and discuss implications for nursing practice. Our second CE, “Early Intervention in Patients with Poststroke Depression,” explains how poststroke depression often manifests, describes risk factors, and discusses the screening tools and therapeutic interventions nurses can use to identify and help manage depression in patients following stroke. In our next article, “The Growing Need for Diverse Blood Donors,” the chief nurse of the American Red Cross discusses how changing demographics necessitate an increase in more ethnically diverse blood donors, and shares strategies nurses can use to address this need. In “Ethical Nursing Care When the Terminally Ill Patient Seeks Death,” the authors review clinical perspectives on the assessment of the patient’s wish or request to die, ethical questions, and the current legal landscape to consider how nursing care can be ethically provided to a patient requesting death. Finally, in “Could Emotional Intelligence Make Patients Safer?,” the authors address how emotional intelligence may be a skill that can help nurses to “error proof” communication in the health care setting. In addition, there’s News, Reflections, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, and more.

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with Geraldine Rose Britton, lead author of “The Experiences of Pregnant Smokers and Their Providers.”

Editor-in-Chief Shawn Kennedy and Clinical Editor Betsy Todd present the highlights of the June issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month’s cover features four paintings by British artist

Bryan Charnley, whose later work depicts his experience with schizophrenia. The authors of our first CE, “Original Research: The Experiences of Pregnant Smokers and Their Providers,” conducted focus groups of pregnant smokers and their providers, most of whom were RNs, to better understand their experiences and to gain insights to help providers best deliver the stop-smoking message. Our second CE, “Mental Health Matters: Antipsychotic Medications,” reviews the mechanisms of action, adverse effects, and contraindications of first-generation typical and second-generation atypical antipsychotics. Our next article, “Irritable Bowel Syndrome,” reviews the epidemiology and pathophysiology of IBS and recent developments in the field of IBS research, summarizes diagnostic and treatment strategies, and discusses implications for nursing practice. In “Perspectives on Palliative Care: Advance Care Planning: The Nurse’s Role,” the author discusses how nurses can promote the practice of advance care planning in their facility and overcome the challenges associated with its implementation. In addition, there’s News, Reflections, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, and more.

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with Kathleen G. Burke, Tonya Johnson, and Christine Sites about their study, in which they developed eight nursing competency domains and 186 related knowledge, skills, and attitudes for professional nursing practice, then sought to validate them and to determine their developmental progression within a clinical advancement program.

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with Laura Anderko and Barbara Polivka about “Project TENDR,” a collaborative initiative of scientists, health professionals, and children’s health advocates to promote chemical policy reform to reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Editor-in-Chief Shawn Kennedy and Clinical Editor Betsy Todd present the highlights of the May issue of the American Journal of Nursing. On this month’s cover, nurses and other health care professionals provide care to a patient in distress. The authors of our first CE, “Original Research: Creating an Evidence-Based Progression for Clinical Advancement Programs,” developed eight nursing competency domains and 186 related knowledge, skills, and attitudes for professional nursing practice, then sought to validate them and to determine their developmental progression within a clinical advancement program. Our second CE, “Venous Thromboembolism: Updated Management Guidelines,” presents an overview of venous thromboembolism plus a review of recommendations from an updated guideline related to treatment options, nursing practice, patient education, diagnostic testing, and more. Our next article, “Environments and Health: Project TENDR,” discusses a collaborative initiative of scientists, health professionals, and children’s health advocates to promote chemical policy reform to reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals. In “Wound Wise: Deep Tissue Pressure Injury: A Clinical Review,” the authors describe the assessment, documentation, prevention, and treatment of these injuries. In addition, there’s News, Reflections, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, and more.

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with nurses from Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, about a study they conducted to determine how an electronic risk assessment tool would compare with nurses’ judgment in identifying patients at risk.

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with Mary H. Palmer about her article, which provides an evidence-based review of the screening, assessment, and management of overactive bladder in women—many of whom do not seek help for the condition and try to self-manage its symptoms, which may inadvertently worsen them.

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with Stephanie Chalupka about her article, which examines the evidence on the likely effects of climate change on mental health and well-being, and discusses these health impacts, their mechanisms of action, and the unique vulnerabilities of some populations, as well as the need to build resilience.