Make sure you read these substantive, peer-reviewed articles from the November issue of Nursing2009.

• Winter emergencies: Managing ski and snowboard injuries
  By Linda Laskowski-Jones, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN, CEN, MS, and Lawrence J. Jones, III, NREMT-B, BA

• Glycemic control in the hospital: How tight should it be?
  By Christine Kessler, RN, ANP, BC-ADM, MN
  

• Fomites and disease transmission
  Beware of the fomites! Did you know that 80% of all common infections, such as colds, flu, and diarrhea, are spread through the environment, with air, water, food, and fomites being the usual vehicles for transmission? Charles P. Gerba, PhD, BS, a professor in the Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science as well as the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Arizona in Tucson, will explain the significance of fomites in disease transmission and identify areas where the greatest risk of transmission lies.
  
• Glucose monitoring: A case for improved outcomes
  In all areas of our patients' lives they’re judged on results; everything we do in life is based on before and after readings and the change that occurs. But for the most part, patients don’t apply these same principles to their diabetes care. Glucose monitoring gives the patient the opportunity apply the same rules to their diabetes care that they use in everyday life. This course will explore differences in A1c readings and how to explain the importance of the readings to your patients.
  
• Pulmonary rehab: Considerations for diverse populations
  This webinar series will provide information regarding exercise testing and prescription for the pulmonary patient, as well as application of this information to the diverse populations of patients in a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

• ACR appropriateness criteria for acute chest pain—Low probability of coronary artery disease
  Read the latest updated guidelines on practice recommendations for ACR appropriateness criteria.
  
• Peramivir IV update from the FDA
  The FDA has issued an emergency use authorization for the investigational antiviral drug Peramivir IV in certain adult and pediatric patients with confirmed or suspected 2009 H1N1 influenza infection who are admitted to a hospital.
  
• Rituxan update from the FDA
  Information to date suggests that patients with rheumatoid arthritis who receive Rituxan have an increased risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Physicians should consider PML in any patient being treated with Rituxan who presents with new onset neurologic manifestations.
  

NNSDO is offering a Nursing Professional Development Certification Preparation Course on December 3 and 4, 2009, in New Orleans, LA, hosted by the Southeast Louisiana Staff Development Organization. For more information, contact Pam Pouciau at [email protected] or 504-487-0867.

Title: The ABCs of EHRs
Authors: Catherine Gray, RN-BC, BSN; Sharon Bee, RN-BC, BSN; and Kenneth Bertka, MD
Abstract: The future of healthcare data management and evidence-based care lies within the informatics arena, and nursing is an integral partner in this process. According to the American Nurses Association, nursing informatics education "is a critical component of many nursing informatics functions and may directly affect the success or failure of any new or modified information technology solution." To provide optimal patient care, nurses must become proficient in the use of informatics.
Source: Nursing Management, September 2009, Vol. 40, No. 9 Supplement

Title: Six ways to zero defects
Authors: Richard Hader, RN, CHE, CPHQ, NE-BC, PhD, FAAN
Abstract:Care delivery that’s safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable is the challenge set forth by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in an effort to reduce medical-related errors, which result in an estimated 100,000 deaths and 5,000,000 injuries to patients each year. Patients seek healthcare with an expectation that their health status will improve following medical and nursing interventions. Far too often, however, the systemic processes that are employed in healthcare organizations fail, resulting in unintended and serious consequences.
Source: Nursing Management, September 2009, Vol. 40, No. 9

Title: Creating a successful transcultural on-boarding program
Authors: Beth Nease, MSN, RN, BC
Abstract:A diverse workforce enables an organization to reflect and respond to community diversity. With an increase in the number of nurses educated outside of the United States seeking licensure and employment within U.S. hospitals, the development of an approach to assimilate these international nurses is essential. A thorough and holistic approach will ensure an ethical and safe introduction into the U.S. nursing workforce. This article describes a program based on the hospital’s nursing professional practice model that was developed to address the challenges of skill transfer, role definition, and communication.
Source: Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, September/October 2009, Vol. 25, No. 5

Would you like the opportunity to enhance your income as well as your resume while working at home and around your schedule?

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, (http://www.lww.com), a unit of Wolters Kluwer Health, a group of leading information companies offering specialized publications and software is searching for nursing contributors and reviewers.

Currently we are searching for nurse contributors and reviewers to help create our nursing book and electronic products. The work is conveniently done around your schedule, at home and results in published work!

Nursing contributors must have a Masters degree or higher with 5 years of clinical experience. All clinical specialties are needed but we are searching in particular for specialists in – OR, Perioperative, Medical-Surgical, Critical Care and ER.

If interested, please submit your credentials to [email protected].

Lippincott's Nursing Advisor provides the answers that your nurses need to act confidently- knowing they are effectively and safely caring for their patient. Institution-wide online access to drug, disease, diagnostic test, treatment, patient teaching, signs & symptoms nursing information at the point of care improves quality of care as well as competency and confidence. It takes nurses right to the information they need, without laborious searches through articles or untrustworthy Internet sources. Ensure your nurses are working from trusted quality information. NEW!- In November 2009- add your own institution’s protocols to ensure standardized patient care. Visit http://www.LWWNursingSolutions.com for more information.

We welcome your comments, questions, and feedback on this e-newsletter. Let us know what you think and whether it's helpful to you. E-mail the editors at [email protected].

Subscribe to Nursing2009. Ensure that your nurses stay current. Nursing2009 offers peer-reviewed articles on topics of interest to every nurse, such as I.V. therapy, infection control, patient safety, wound care, and pain management. Subscribe for just $27.95 + $1.95 S&H--a 64% savings over the annual single copy price of $84. Individual subscribers now get access to access to full text current and past issues at Nursing2009.com.

Subscribe to JNSD at 40% off the regular rate. Improve and maintain staff competencies and motivate all nurses at your facility to do their best. Now in its 25th year, Journal for Nurses in Staff Development is peer reviewed to give you authoritative advice on meaningful research that's easy to understand and ready to use.

Lippincott’s Nursing Procedures and Skills Now with new Skills Competency Tests for over 900 procedures! Designed by clinical nurses for clinical nurses, Lippincott’s Nursing Procedures and Skills helps improve and standardize patient care through institution- wide online access to over 900 procedures. All procedures are reviewed at least annually and have evidence-based resources cited at the end of every procedure. Color visuals, including hundreds of video clips, and an easy interface make navigation quick and easy. Evaluate and train staff using the skills checklists and checklist administration tool as well as the brand new competency tests. There's no better way to build your staff's confidence and improve your institution’s patient care outcomes. Visit http://www.LWWNursingSolutions.com for more information.

Want to make sure that you keep receiving Nursing2009 SDU eNews? Be sure to add [email protected] to your address book!

NursingCenter respects your privacy and will not share your information with other companies or organizations without your permission. View our Privacy Policy.

Forgotten your username or password? Please contact Customer Service.