Implementation of an Extubation Readiness Guideline for Preterm Infants.

BACKGROUND: Intubated preterm infants 32 6 / 7 weeks or less of gestation in a mid-Atlantic level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) faced a high number of ventilator days. Based on 6 weeks of electronic health record (EHR) chart audits of extubations in this NICU in 2021, 44% of preterm infants 32 6 / 7 weeks or less of gestation were intubated for more than 28 days, with an average of 23 days on a ventilator. This NICU lacked a standardized extubation guideline providing criteria to drive extubation eligibility. PURPOSE: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of an extubation readiness guideline in preterm infants 32 6 / 7 weeks or less of gestation in a mid-Atlantic level IV NICU. METHODS: This project occurred over a 17-week period in 2021. Implementation included a multidisciplinary committee formation, identification of champions, NICU staff education, completion of a guideline checklist by bedside nursing (for eligible patients), clinician reminders, and chart audits for collection of pre-/postimplementation data. Staff education completion, guideline use and compliance, demographic patient data, ventilator days, time to first extubation, and need for reintubation were tracked. RESULTS: Postimplementation data indicated decreased need for intubation for more than 28 days, ventilator days, and days to first extubation attempt. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Results suggested that implementation of the evidence-based guideline was effective in decreasing average total ventilator days for preterm infants 32 6 / 7 weeks or less of gestation.

U.S. Primary Care Provider Needs: An Analysis of Workforce Projections and Policy Implications.

The primary care (PC) physician workforce has consistently been projected as requiring additional numbers to meet the needs of the U.S. The Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) has reported the PC nurse practitioner (NP) workforce to be 90,000 NPs more than required to meet the PC needs of the U.S. With both clinician types contributing to the PC workforce in the country, it is difficult to understand such an oversupply of NPs with continued deficit in PC physicians. The purpose of this study was to investigate results and methods used for HRSAs current PC workforce projections and compare those with the same used for Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) projections. Methods included a review of technical documents, dashboards, and published reports. Interviews with subject matter experts were also completed. Projections were found to differ significantly, as did data and assumptions. Two of the three projections modeled physicians as the sole provider of PC. An integrated model gives the most comprehensive and accurate picture of PC workforce needs. The utilization of NPs as PC providers has been demonstrated to be safe and effective, with the potential to alleviate predicted shortages, improve patient care outcomes, reduce cost, and address PC inequities. Implications include improving workforce data, creating projections that mirror clinical integration in PC, adjusting workforce preparation funding, incentivizing interprofessional collaboration in research, addressing barriers to practice among non-physician providers, and leveraging growth in the NP workforce.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, Smoking Initiation, and Social Integration among Adolescents.

This observational, longitudinal study's purpose was to investigate whether social network integration has a moderating effect on smoking initiation among those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Data were drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a nationally representative longitudinal dataset. Social network and smoking data were collected in schools, with a 6-year follow-up that included ADHD symptoms and reported smoking. Social integration was measured as peer friendship nominations (degree) and the influence of an individual on the entire social network (centrality). Multilevel logistic regression found a main effect for ADHD symptoms and low numbers of friendship nominations on smoking initiation, but social network measures were not significant moderators of the relationship between ADHD symptoms and smoking initiation among adolescents. Further investigation of the drivers of smoking initiation among those with ADHD is warranted.

Traversing academic rank promotion for nurse practitioner faculty.

ABSTRACT: The relatively rapid increase of nurse practitioner (NP) programs across the United States has necessitated schools and colleges of nursing to hire and support NP faculty through the promotion process to sustain their programs. Nurse practitioner faculty engaged in clinical practice often face barriers in obtaining rank promotion. The purpose of this article was to provide NP faculty an evidence-based pathway to support academic rank promotion. An additional aim was to recognize implicit biases and barriers, while offering guidance for overcoming challenges. Using Boyer (1990) and American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2018) as a foundation, this article outlines a pathway to synergistically highlight and weave clinical practice experiences within academic expectations of promotion. The categories of academic rank promotion identified and highlighted within this article include scholarship, teaching, practice, and service. The Stager & Douglass Pathway to Preparation for Traversing Academic Rank for Clinical Faculty provides steps for a well-developed plan and comprehensive dossier in supporting successful promotion. These steps include understanding institutional promotional guidelines, developing focused priorities, defining the clinical practice role in the progression of promotion, partnering with a mentor, gathering supportive materials early, and developing a comprehensive dossier, leading to a successful academic rank promotion process. Preparing the dossier early leverages time for the NP faculty to strategize with academic leaders and colleague mentors to develop focused priorities. In addition, identified biases and barriers may be mitigated to support successful academic rank promotion.

The primary care provider and the patient living in poverty: Applying the Bridges to Health and Healthcare model to NP practice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is a much recent emphasis on the social determinants of health, and poverty is the most influential of these. It is not enough merely to understand the influence of poverty on health-the primary care provider must understand how to effectively treat patients who live in poverty. METHODS: This article applies the Bridges to Health and Healthcare model for understanding poverty to primary care practice from an individual provider's perspective. The article walks the reader through the implications of generational poverty for the primary care clinician in a typical office visit from history taking to following up. CONCLUSIONS: Most primary care practitioners approach patients from a middle-class perspective. Awareness of the challenges and different perspectives of those in generational poverty can enhance care and outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The individual provider can use the understanding of driving forces, resources, language and cognition, environment, and relationships provided by the Bridges to Health and Healthcare model to benefit patients in generational poverty.

Developing a longitudinal cancer nursing education program in Honduras.

The present paper is a longitudinal study which aims to develop and deliver cancer nursing education conferences in Honduras using volunteer nurse educators. This program intends to (1) perform site assessments of work environments and resources for cancer care in Honduras, (2) develop cancer nursing education programs, (3) survey conference participants continuing education needs, (4) deliver cancer nursing education conferences, and (5) share data with local and global partners for future cancer programs. The study draws on a longitudinal program development with site assessments, data collection, and educational conferences at two time points. Assessments and surveys were used for conference development and delivery by volunteer nurse educators. Site assessments and conferences were delivered twice. Data were collected regarding assessments and surveys to inform program development. Survey data revealed that <4 % had formal training in cancer care and >65 % had internet access. Participants desired more information about handling of chemotherapy, symptom management, and palliative care. Volunteer nurse educators perform site assessments and develop educational programming for cancer nurses. Local and global partners should explore internet-based programs between site visits to create sustainable education programs.

Secondary supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor following treatment of childhood osteosarcoma.

A 16-year-old Caucasian male was diagnosed with a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) 5 years following the diagnosis of nonmetastatic osteosarcoma of the left proximal humerus. The patient was initially treated with standard chemotherapy and limb salvage resection for osteosarcoma. Nine months after the completion of therapy, he developed lung metastases for which he underwent surgical resection and received additional chemotherapy. Almost 5 years after the osteosarcoma diagnosis, the patient was diagnosed with a supratentorial PNET, which represents the first known case reported in a patient with osteosarcoma.

Voriconazole-induced phototoxicity masquerading as chronic graft-versus-host disease of the skin in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.

Systemic fungal infections pose a significant risk to patients following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). Voriconazole (Vfend, Pfizer) is an oral second-generation triazole antifungal agent that offers a broad spectrum of coverage against fungal species and is frequently utilized in the post-HCT setting. Herein, we describe 5 patients who were initially believed to be experiencing a flare of cutaneous chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), but who were actually exhibiting phototoxicity caused by voriconazole. A high index of suspicion for this adverse reaction in the post-alloHCT setting will prevent misdiagnosis and avoid inappropriate therapy for cGVHD.

Accurate visible speech synthesis based on concatenating variable length motion capture data.

We present a novel approach to synthesizing accurate visible speech based on searching and concatenating optimal variable-length units in a large corpus of motion capture data. Based on a set of visual prototypes selected on a source face and a corresponding set designated for a target face, we propose a machine learning technique to automatically map the facial motions observed on the source face to the target face. In order to model the long distance coarticulation effects in visible speech, a large-scale corpus that covers the most common syllables in English was collected, annotated and analyzed. For any input text, a search algorithm to locate the optimal sequences of concatenated units for synthesis is desrcribed. A new algorithm to adapt lip motions from a generic 3D face model to a specific 3D face model is also proposed. A complete, end-to-end visible speech animation system is implemented based on the approach. This system is currently used in more than 60 kindergarten through third grade classrooms to teach students to read using a lifelike conversational animated agent. To evaluate the quality of the visible speech produced by the animation system, both subjective evaluation and objective evaluation are conducted. The evaluation results show that the proposed approach is accurate and powerful for visible speech synthesis.

Dysfunctional elimination syndrome is a negative predictor for vesicoureteral reflux.

PURPOSE: We investigated the likelihood of finding vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs), accompanied by fever or dysfunctional elimination syndrome (DES). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred consecutive voiding cystourethrograms performed in 1997-2002 for a diagnosis of UTI were reviewed. Fever, DES, and the grade and laterality of VUR were recorded. Patients were stratified into two groups by age to allow for assessment of DES symptoms in the older patient population: <2 years (n=68) and > or =2 years (n=132). Ratios were compared using a two-tailed Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Of the children> or =2 years old, 64/132 (48%) had VUR. Patients who were non-febrile with DES were less likely than patients who were febrile without DES to have VUR [12/34 (35%) vs 23/34 (68%), P=0.02], whereas the risk of dilating VUR [5/34 (15%) vs 11/34 (32%), P=0.15] and bilateral VUR [4/34 (12%) vs 11/34 (32%), P=0.08] was not statistically different. In febrile patients, the presence of DES was associated with a lower risk of VUR [22/51 (43%) vs 23/34 (68%), P=0.03] and dilating VUR [5/51 (10%) vs 11/34 (32%), P=0.01], but not bilateral VUR [8/51 (16%) vs 11/34 (32%), P=0.11]. CONCLUSIONS: Children with non-febrile UTI and DES have a significantly lower risk of having VUR compared to children with febrile UTI and no DES. Among children with a history of UTI, DES is a negative predictor for VUR.

Dysfunctional elimination syndrome: is it related to urinary tract infection or vesicoureteral reflux diagnosed early in life?

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that urinary tract infections (UTIs) early in life predispose to dysfunctional elimination syndrome (DES). This study evaluated the relationship between early UTI, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and DES by comparing two cohorts of school-aged children. METHODS: The UTI cohort (n = 123) included children previously enrolled in a prospective treatment trial conducted between 1992 and 1997. All were diagnosed with a febrile UTI before 2 years of age. The comparison cohort (n = 125) included children who were evaluated for fever in the emergency department between 1992 and 1997, whose urine culture was negative. Dysfunctional elimination symptoms were compared in the two cohorts by having families complete a revised version of the Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were received from 248 children. There were no significant differences in selected demographic or clinical characteristics between the two cohorts. DES was present in 22% and 21% of children with and without a history of early UTI, respectively. Among children with UTIs, 18% of those with VUR and 25% of those without VUR had DES. CONCLUSIONS: Dysfunctional elimination is common in a general pediatric population. Neither UTI nor VUR diagnosed before 2 years of age was associated with DES in school-aged children.

Extracorporeal photopheresis in the treatment of persistent rejection in a pediatric lung transplant recipient.

Lung transplantation is an accepted therapy for children with end-stage lung disease. One-year lung transplant survival rates of 86% have been reported by the United Network for Organ Sharing. Allograft rejection is a common cause of death following transplantation. Extracorporeal photopheresis is a novel therapy used to treat solid-organ rejection; this therapy involves separating the leukocyte-rich fraction from whole blood, treating with psoralen and ultraviolet light A exposure. The objective of therapy is to reverse progressive and persistent rejection. Working collaboratively with an institution that offers extracorporeal photopheresis may provide an alternative or additional therapy in the management of ongoing rejection following solid-organ transplantation.

The effect of dysfunctional voiding on the costs of treating vesicoureteral reflux: a computer model.

PURPOSE: We created a computer model for evaluating the effect of dysfunctional voiding on the costs of managing vesicoureteral reflux in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature on vesicoureteral reflux was reviewed to create a set of assumptions regarding the epidemiology, likelihood of resolution, need for operative intervention, risk of infection and appropriate regimen for nonoperative surveillance. Recent literature describing the effect of dysfunctional voiding on the clinical course of vesicoureteral reflux was included in the model to compare the costs of treating vesicoureteral reflux in children with and without dysfunctional voiding. A 5-year management period was considered. RESULTS: Dysfunctional voiding in children with vesicoureteral reflux increased the cost of treatment per patient by 51.2%. The cost per patient increased with increasing grade in those with and without dysfunctional voiding. The difference in costs in the 2 groups increased from 18.7% for grade 1 reflux to 62.1% for grade 5. Sensitivity analysis was performed, in which the risk of urinary tract infection, rate of surgical resolution, incidence of dysfunctional voiding and discount rate varied. The cost in children with dysfunctional voiding remained higher in all scenarios studied, showing the robustness of the model. CONCLUSIONS: Dysfunctional voiding substantially increases the costs of treating children with vesicoureteral reflux due to the higher rate of urinary tract infection in children with dysfunctional voiding. Methods that would decrease the rate of urinary tract infection in children with dysfunctional voiding and vesicoureteral reflux would lead to a significant saving of health care dollars.

In their own words: the lived experience of pediatric liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for children with end-stage liver disease. Few studies have examined the experience of transplantation from the child's perspective. Using a phenomenological approach establishes a safe environment for children to reflect on their lives as transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to uncover the experiences of pediatric liver transplant recipients from the period prior to transplantation, through surgery, and beyond. In-depth conversations with 9 pediatric recipients were carried out. Phenomenological methodology guided the data collection and analysis. The children faced many challenges, including surviving a life-threatening illness while accomplishing normal developmental tasks. The predominant theme was striving for normalcy in their lives.

Management of blunt abdominal trauma in children.

TOPIC: Over the last decade non-operative management of children with blunt abdominal trauma has been established as safe and efficacious. PURPOSE: This paper reviews the clinical management and resource utilization patterns in a pediatric trauma center in the mid-Atlantic region. It focuses on the following issues admission to the intensive care unit, safe interval for activity restriction, pre and post imaging with CT, rate of laparotomy and transfusion requirements of children with blunt abdominal trauma. Nursing care and medical management from the initial evaluation through discharge are discussed. SOURCES: Management of blunt abdominal injury in children was restructured using an algorithm suggested by the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) trauma committee to coordinate care at a regional trauma center. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated a decrease in LOS from 6 days to 4 days, and a 20% reduction in total costs.