Lessons learned: Why study-abroad remains a critical component of nursing curriculums.

BACKGROUND: Caring for an increasingly older and multicultural patient population requires nurses and APNs who are able to integrate cultural competency in meeting the needs of their patients while decreasing health care disparities. A study-abroad immersion experience is one way to instill deep learning and cultural competency. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experience of baccalaureate nursing students and APN students working together in a study-abroad, service-learning experience. METHOD: Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) (Smith & Osborn, 2003), we explored the lived experience of Baccalaureate and Advanced Practice Nursing Students in a service-learning, study-abroad experience in Belize. RESULTS: Emergent themes derived from students' journal transcripts were: (1) Allowing learning to take place; (2) Practicing nursing with limited resources (3) A different take on culture; and (4) Kinship with peers. From this theme two sub themes emerged: 1) students' connection with the people and the country, and 2) students' connection with each other. CONCLUSION: Cultural immersion prepared students to work in Belize with different patient groups, having varied perspectives related to their health. Students learned that the core values of dignity and caring require that we, as nurses, go where the patient is-not where we want the patient to be. This is tested when students are confronted with a culture not their own.

Base Excision Repair AP-Endonucleases-Like Genes Modulate DNA Damage Response and Virulence of the Human Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.

Pathogenic microbes are exposed to a number of potential DNA-damaging stimuli during interaction with the host immune system. Microbial survival in this situation depends on a fine balance between the maintenance of DNA integrity and the adaptability provided by mutations. In this study, we investigated the association of the DNA repair response with the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans, a basidiomycete that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals. We focused on the characterization of C. neoformansAPN1 and APN2 putative genes, aiming to evaluate a possible role of the predicted Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases 1 and 2 of the base excision repair (BER) pathway on C. neoformans response to stress conditions and virulence. Our results demonstrated the involvement of the putative AP-endonucleases Apn1 and Apn2 in the cellular response to DNA damage induced by alkylation and by UV radiation, in melanin production, in tolerance to drugs and in virulence of C. neoformans in vivo. We also pointed out the potential use of DNA repair inhibitor methoxy-amine in combination with conventional antifungal drugs, for the development of new therapeutic approaches against this human fungal pathogen. This work provides new information about the DNA damage response of the highly important pathogenic fungus C. neoformans.

Are the unenhanced and excretory CT phases necessary for the evaluation of acute pyelonephritis?

Background The most widely accepted computed tomography (CT) protocol for diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) includes at least a pre- and post-contrast scan, which may expose patients to higher doses of ionizing radiation. Purpose To establish the accuracy, reproducibility, and degree of confidence in CT diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) and urolithiasis using only images obtained during the nephrographic phase. Material and Methods A retrospective study of 100 consecutive patients (88 women; age range, 19-70 years) with clinical and laboratory suspicion of APN and who underwent triphasic abdominal CT scans (non-contrast, nephrographic, and excretory phases) was performed. Two readers first evaluated independently only the nephrographic phase of scans, and, in a second session, the entire study. The diagnostic reference standard was settled by a third experienced radiologist who reviewed all triphasic scans and clinical data. Results The accuracy of only nephrographic phase for diagnosis of APN and urolithiasis was in the range of 90.3-91.78% and 96.27-99.25%, respectively. There was no significant difference in comparison with the triphasic reading (z: -0.4 - 0.2; P = 0.34-0.83). The average degree of confidence for APN also showed no significant variation for both readers ( P = 0.4 and 0.08). Almost perfect inter-observer agreements for the diagnosis of APN (k = 0.86, P < 0.001) and for urolithiasis (k = 0.84, P < 0.001) were observed when considering only the nephrographic phase. Conclusion CT assessment of APN and urolithiasis can be accurately performed using only the late nephrographic phase, with consequent dose reduction.

Caracterización de los neonatos prematuros en la sala de neonatos del hospital escuela césar amador molina de matagalpa, Nicaragua, año 2015

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar a los neonatos prematuros que ingresaron en sala deNeonatología, Hospital Escuela César Amador Molina, Matagalpa, Nicaragua, 2015.Diseño metodológico: Es transversal descriptivo, con un universo de 192 neonatos, y una muestra de 130 neonatos prematuros con criterios de inclusión. RESULTADOS: el 83.85% (109) del área rural, el 59.23% (77) edad materna de 20 a 34 años, el 27.69%(36) primaria incompleta, 38.46% (50) primigestas, 64.62% ( 84) concuatro APN, 49.23% (64) peso de 1600 a 2000 gr, 72.31% (94) nacidos entre lasemana 31 a la 34 de gestación, 80.77 (105) atendidos en el segundo nivel deatención, 51.54%, parto vaginal y el 48.46% cesárea, 50.77% (66) femeninas y 49.23%(64) masculinos, 41.54%(54) esquema completo de corticoides antenatalesy 43.08%(56) ninguna dosis, 59.23%(77) con IVU, 50.77(66), RPM, 90%(117) con SDR, 55.38%(72) VM, 57.9%(75) sepsis, 53.08%(69) 1 a 7 días de estancia hospitalaria, 53.08%(69) egresaron vivos y 46.15%(60) fallecidos.

Autonomy and empowerment in advanced practice registered nurses: lessons from New Mexico.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between autonomy and empowerment of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and predictor variables of physician oversight, geographical location, and practice setting. As the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is implemented, these characteristics are vital to understanding how APRNs practice and the relationship of APRNs to other healthcare team members, including physicians. DATA SOURCES: This was a descriptive, correlational survey of APRNs in New Mexico exploring autonomy and empowerment in relation to variables of physician oversight, geographical location, and practice setting. CONCLUSIONS: New Mexico's APRN Nurse Practice Act supports independent practice and prescriptive authority. Results indicated that APRNs are highly empowered and autonomous. However, nearly 40% of respondents identified practicing with physician oversight. Further investigation of subscales of empowerment also provided insight of relationships among healthcare team members, particularly physicians. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This research provides additional knowledge for policy changes that support APRNs assuming more responsibility for primary care. However, understanding the APRN role within the healthcare team is necessary for effective implementation of primary care in New Mexico.