Nursing and Playwriting Students Collaborative: Elevating Reflective Practice.

Reflection is essential in the formation and ethical comportment of nurses. The COVID-19 pandemic brought extraordinary challenges to nursing practice and education of nurses. A pilot collaboration between a college of nursing and a department of dramatic writing at a research-intensive urban university aimed to promote the esthetic pattern of knowing through the dramatic presentation of the experiences of nursing students and frontline nurses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The playwrights wrote two short plays based on interviews with two nursing students and three experienced nurses. The project sought to enhance narrative competence and empathy development of nurses and playwrights, and to promote reflection-on-action.

Solving the Nursing Shortage.

National work is urgently needed.

Methods of Teaching Transgender Health in Undergraduate Nursing Programs: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Transgender populations experience disproportionately higher rates of mental and physical health issues such as suicidality and heart disease than their cisgender counterparts. Education of health professions students and providers is recognized as an effective method in mitigating transgender health disparities. PURPOSE: This narrative review investigated the methods in which transgender health is taught in undergraduate nursing programs. Suggestions for optimizing transgender health education are presented. METHOD: This review critically appraised and synthesized 28 articles that met these inclusion criteria: articles in English describing teaching strategies used in transgender health education with samples that include undergraduate nursing students. RESULTS: Didactic lecture is the most widely used method, followed by role-play simulation, use of film and video, guest presentation, and high-fidelity and standardized patient simulation. CONCLUSION: Lectures remain the dominant method of delivering transgender health content. Improvements in students' knowledge and attitude related to transgender care were noted posteducation.

Best Practices in Pediatric Oncology Pain Management.

ABSTRACT: Pediatric oncology patients are vulnerable to pain that may be caused by the disease or its treatment, and this symptom can be challenging to manage. This article focuses on the importance of pain control, pain assessment and treatment, and special considerations in pediatric oncology pain management, including preparing children for painful procedures and the family's role in managing pain.

The Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Health across the Lifespan in Pre-Registration Nursing Programmes: Qualitative Findings from a Mixed-Methods Study.

Poor physical and mental ill-health is experienced by many LGBTQ+ people, compounded by a reluctance to access healthcare services. This reluctance is attributed to experiences of heteronormative assumptions and negative attitudes encountered. Despite increasing recognition of the need to include LGBTQ+ health in undergraduate healthcare programmes, inconsistencies and gaps in content, skills development, and assessment are still apparent. The aim of the study was to identify LGBTQ+ health content within nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes and identify education best practice and innovation. A mixed-methods study involving a quantitative and qualitative design was undertaken. The qualitative findings from a nursing perspective were extracted from the dataset for further detailed analysis and are reported in this paper. Information about the study and an online survey were distributed to 135 Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in the UK and Ireland. Individual semi-structured online interviews took place with academics. Qualitative data from 29 survey responses and 12 follow-up interviews were thematically analysed. Eight of the 12 follow-up interviews were held with nursing academics and following data analysis three themes emerged: (i) LGBTQ+ health across the lifespan; (ii) taking the initiative for LGBTQ+ health inclusion; and (iii) identifying and overcoming challenges. The findings highlight the endeavours by nursing academics to integrate LGBTQ+ health within pre-registration programmes to meet the education needs of students and the opportunity to develop curriculum content to address the needs and concerns of LGBTQ+ people across the lifespan.

The Impact of Nonpharmacological Interventions on Sleep Quality Among Older Adult Patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

Sleep is a basic human need that is required for good health and overall well-being. Adequate sleep is critical for cognitive functioning, memory consolidation, and emotional regulation by rejuvenating the body. Sleep may not be of significant concern unless it becomes lacking or disturbed as it alters the immune function, neurological processes, and intellectual and decision making of individuals. Hospitalized older adults are particularly vulnerable for the negative impact of poor sleep due to reduced physiological reserve and comorbidities. The purpose of this review is to appraise current evidence on nonpharmacological sleep interventions to promote better sleep quality and overall health outcomes among the general adult and older patients in the intensive care unit compared with no intervention at all. The findings of this integrative review will be useful in designing and implementing interdisciplinary plans of care that promote the use of nonpharmacological sleep protocols within the hospital setting.

Palliative Care Consult Among Older Adult Patients in Intensive Care Units: An Integrative Review.

A review of the literature indicates that there are many benefits of palliative care consultations for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients who received palliative care treatment were found to have a better emotional state, received less invasive procedures, and had a shorter ICU length of stay. It is noted that patients who could benefit from palliative care treatments may not be identified due to failures to meet the criteria for palliative care consultations. A culture change is needed to improve palliative services, and to standardize when and how it is used.

CE: The Effects of Smoking on Bone Health and Healing.

The number of orthopedic surgeries performed in the United States has increased substantially over the past several years. The most recent data available from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality indicate that five of the 10 operative procedures most commonly performed during inpatient stays involve the musculoskeletal system. Cigarette smoking is one of the most prevalent and preventable risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and orthopedic surgery complications. This article discusses the effects of smoking on bone health, the importance of smoking cessation among patients scheduled for or recovering from orthopedic surgery, and the vital role nurses play in supporting patient efforts to lead a tobacco-free life.

The Impact of Geriatric-Specific Triage Tools Among Older Adults in the Emergency Department.

As the aging population grows, emergency department (ED) service utilization among those 65 years and older is expected to rise. In 2017, it was estimated that approximately 49 million Americans were 65 years and older. Not surprisingly, the number of ED visits by older adults is also increasing, given that this population is more likely to have multiple comorbidities. Emergency department visits by older adults pose specific challenges in risk stratification and optimizing their care based on the use of geriatric-specific triage tools. The aim of this integrative review is to appraise the impact of geriatric-specific triage tolls used in the ED and offer meaningful discussion on how to best address older adults in the ED setting. Findings from this review will help inform the efforts of clinicians, educators, researchers, and public health policy stakeholders charged in the care and advocacy for vulnerable older adults.

Lifestyle Risk Factors in Esophageal Cancer: An Integrative Review.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a prevalent type of cancer, affecting more than 16 000 people annually in the United States. Being a high-burden disease, the comprehensive management of EC is challenging, particularly for older adults. In addition, Asian countries have some of the highest age-standardized incidence rates of EC in the world. Epidemiologic studies have revealed that cigarette and cigar smoking, alcohol drinking, obesity, being overweight, and areca chewing increase the risk of EC. This integrative review aims to elucidate the association between lifestyle factors such dietary habits, smoking, and alcohol consumption and EC among the Asian populations with Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese ethnicity. The synthesis of the literature found that environmental factors play an important role in the risk of EC occurrence. Although most of the risk factors showed a positive relationship in increasing the risk, studies included in this review reported inconclusive results on whether tea and coffee are risk factors. The consumption of very hot beverages and low intake of green vegetable are associated with EC. Smoking, alcohol intake, and their interaction with diets were found to be the biggest factor in the development of EC. Registered nurses can educate about esophageal thermal injury among persons who have preference for drinking burning-hot beverages and those with multiple risk factors, such as those who smoke and drink excess alcohol, as well as promoting health behaviors and serving as patient advocates.

Lifestyle Modifications in Adults and Older Adults With Chronic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic disorder that causes the unwanted backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus, throat, and mouth. Gastroesophageal reflux disease affects roughly 20% of the US population. It is estimated that older adults experience GERD symptoms more commonly and with greater severity because of age-related physiologic changes. Comorbidities and polypharmacy, common in older adults, can also exacerbate GERD symptoms, which can allow the disease to progress. This integrative review aims to identify key lifestyle-associated risk factors and interventions appropriate for older adults with GERD. Findings can drive evidence-based collaborative best practices to care for patients in both acute and community settings with GERD. Recommendations for nursing education material that aims to address the gap of multilingual and culturally relevant GERD content will be discussed. It is likely that the prevalence of GERD will increase as the prevalence of obesity increases. It is here that registered nurses can play an instrumental role in the prevention and management of GERD in older adults by providing education, promoting health behaviors, and serving as patient advocates.

Beliefs and perceptions of mentorship among nursing faculty and traditional and accelerated undergraduate nursing students.

BACKGROUND: In order to meet the demands of a dynamic and complex health care landscape, nursing education must develop and implement programming to produce a highly educated nursing workforce. Interprofessional honors education in nursing with targeted mentorship is one such model. PURPOSE: To describe undergraduate nursing student and faculty perceptions and beliefs of mentorship in the context of interprofessional honors education, and compare and contrast the perceptions and beliefs about mentorship in interprofessional honors education between undergraduate nursing students and faculty. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional, descriptive design. Data were collected at an urban university in the northeast US, using a researcher-developed electronic survey. The sample included 24 full-time nursing faculty, and 142 undergraduate nursing students. RESULTS: Perceptions and beliefs regarding mentorship in the context of interprofessional honors education were similar for faculty and students, with both ranking mentorship among the most important components of a successful honors program. CONCLUSIONS: Honors education with a dedicated mentorship component may be implemented to improve the undergraduate education experience, facilitate advanced degree attainment, and develop future nursing leaders.

Nursing Humanities: Teaching for a Sense of Salience.

Reports have indicated that nursing programs in the United States are not generally effective in teaching nursing science, natural science, the social sciences, and the humanities. The value of the lifelong study of humanities for nurses is the invitation for contemplation on the human experience so we can make informed moral, spiritual, and intellectual sense of the world. In essence, when we understand, we become more empathetic. This article adds to the call for teaching for a sense of salience in nursing through the meaningful synthesis of humanities in baccalaureate education.

Faculty and Student Perspectives on Mentorship in a Nursing Honors Program.

Honors programs in nursing can facilitate the professional development of high-achieving students, supporting their lifelong engagement in nursing practice, education, research, and health care policy issues. Strong mentoring relationships are commonly identified as essential to the success of nursing honors programs, but literature on mentoring relationships in an honors context is limited. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into faculty and student expectations for mentorship. Faculty and students shared similar expectations for both the mentor and mentee, highlighting key themes of engagement, facilitation, accountability, and collaboration as necessary for the success of an undergraduate nursing honors program.

Factors Influencing Weaning Older Adults From Mechanical Ventilation: An Integrative Review.

This study aim was to describe the influences that affect weaning from mechanical ventilation among older adults in the intensive care unit (ICU). Adults older than 65 years comprised only 14.5% of the US population in 2014; however, they accounted up to 45% of all ICU admissions. As this population grows, the number of ICU admissions is expected to increase. One of the most common procedures for hospitalized adults 75 years and older is mechanical ventilation. An integrative review methodology was applied to analyze and synthesize primary research reports. A search for the articles was performed using the PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases; using the keywords and Boolean operators "older adults," "weaning," "mechanical ventilation," and intensive care unit. Although physiologic changes that occur with aging place older adults at higher risk for respiratory complications and mortality, there are many factors, other than chronological age, that can determine a patient's ability to be successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation. Of the 6 studies reviewed, all identified various predictors of weaning outcome, which included maximal inspiratory pressure, rapid shallow breathing index, fluid balance, comorbidity burden, severity of illness, emphysematous changes, and low serum albumin. Age, in and of itself, is not a predictor of weaning from mechanical ventilation. More studies are needed to describe the influences affecting weaning older adults from mechanical ventilation.