The AJN Podcast

As always, nurses rose to the occasion to provide needed care to those injured in the bombing. AJN contributing editor Gail Pisarcik Lenehan, EdD, RN, FAEN, FAAN, former president of the Emergency Nurses Association and a clinical nurse specialist in emergency nursing, revisited the day with several nurses who were on duty in one of Boston’s emergency departments. We present their stories in their own words below. Here, Lenehan and AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speak with MaryFran Hughes, MSN, RN, Emergency Nursing Director at Massachusetts General Hospital.

You can read more in the April 2014 issue.

It used to be that evidence of sexual assault was not collected during the initial health exam unless the assault survivor had already initiated a report to law enforcement agencies. However, recognizing the trauma surrounding an assault, some states do conduct a forensic exam, store the evidence and allow survivors up to two years to decide whether or not to report the crime. Lead author Laurie Heffron discusses with AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy the findings of her mixed methods study of the impact of this nonreport option on health professionals, survivors and the criminal justice system.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and Clinical Managing Editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the March issue of the American Journal of Nursing. On our cover this month, young men pose at an AIDS service center in NYC, and our first CE, Nursing in the Fourth Decade of the HIV Epidemic, highlights changes in patients’ life expectancy, quality of life, policy, epidemiology, and nurses’ impact on this population. Our second CE is an original research on sexual assault survivors and the implementation of their nonreport option. Our Emerging Infections discusses a treatment resistant strain of Clostridium difficile and the accompanying rise in mortalities. We launch a new series this month from the Joanna Briggs Institute, Systematic Reviews Step by Step. An AJN Reports reviews tobacco cessation programs, and since March is Red Cross month, we profile five American Red Cross nurses who received the Nightingale Medal this year. And of course there’s News, In Our Community, Reflections, Viewpoint, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, and more.

Brous is a nurse and attorney, a contributing editor for AJN, and coordinates our legal column. AJN editor-in-chief discusses with Brous common problems that lead nurses to her door and what nurses can learn from this particular case.

Although pain following tonsillectomy varies from patient to patient, it is typically prolonged, constant and fairly severe. Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with the authors about their work in managing pain following the procedure, changes in guidelines and thinking around medications and schedules, and important considerations for increasing parental adherence to treatment plans.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and Clinical Managing Editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the February issue of the American Journal of Nursing. In honor of black history month, our cover photo comes from a 1951 Life Magazine photo essay about a nurse mid-wife who served the poor, mostly black communities in rural South Carolina. Our first CE is an original research piece on changing trends among newly-licensed RNs, assessing data about the job market and workforce. Our second CE discusses the management of posttonsillectomy pain in children. Our cultivating quality piece this month explores strategies that one group of hospital nurses implemented to reduce medication errors resulting from workplace interruptions. Another article from the American Organization of Nurse Executives for Emerging Nurse Leaders, describes how one nursing unit improved nurses’ abilities to delegate. And a new series debuts this month in our Legal Clinic column, reviewing true cases of medical malpractice suits. And of course there’s News, In Our Community, Reflections, Viewpoint, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, and more.

Recent mass shootings may lead the public to believe all people with mental illness can become violent. Author Donna Sabella discusses with AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy what role, if any, mental illness plays in violent behavior. She describes what the research shows and offers some pointers for assessing for violence risk.

In June 2010, we published Pittman’s article on ethical recruitment of foreign-educated nurses (FENS); now, Pittman and colleagues report on a survey of FENS regarding equitable treatment in the workplace. Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy discusses the findings with Pittman.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and Clinical Managing Editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the January issue of the American Journal of Nursing. A painting on this month’s cover depicts a more modern provider in today’s changing healthcare landscape than Norman Rockwell’s typical portraits of the kindly older family doctor. Our first CE is an original research on employment-based discrimination among foreign-educated nurses. Our second CE defines the principles behind the self-management of urinary and fecal incontinence and what patients need in order to control these conditions on their own. Our annual “Year in Review” recognizes the most significant healthcare stories of the year and assesses the nursing job market. The “Mental Health Matters” column explores public perceptions of the link between mental illness and violence, reviewing the research and how nurses can identify risks. “Emerging Infections” provides updates on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. We also announce our annual Book of the Year award winners in this issue. And of course there’s News, In Our Community, Reflections, Viewpoint, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, and more.