Improving Trends in the Nursing Labor Market-Progress Is Being Made
In a recent study analyzing the nurse labor market, Peter Buerhaus of Vanderbilt University examines the increase in RN earnings, employment, and recruitment initiatives to determine the impact on nursing trends.
The study revealed the following key highlights:
[black small square] Since 2001, RN employment has increased by more than 200,000; however, the nursing shortage is still prevalent across the country.
[black small square] Employment of young RNs (ages 21-34 years) increased by 87,000 in 2003, the highest level observed for younger RNs since 1987.
[black small square] Male nurses increased to represent 9% of the total nurse labor market, with 160,000 RNs.
[black small square] The recent surge in RN employment is related to recruitment initiatives such as Johnson & Johnson's Campaign for Nursing's Future that call positive attention to the nursing industry.
But the most surprising findings from the study show that even with the significant increase in nurses joining the work-force, the nursing shortage is far from over. The full study can be accessed at: http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/hlthaff.w4.526.
Concerned About All of the OTCs Your Patients Are Taking? So Is the FDA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced its intention to regulate the dietary supplements industry. Over-the-counter medications (OTCs) purchased by consumers to improve their general health or expedite weight loss are often based on unsubstantiated manufacturer's claims. In addition to instituting a program of inspectors who will visit retail stores to identify these products, the FDA is pooling its resources with the National Institutes of Health, the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicines, and other national organizations to develop regulations and policies requiring manufacturers to substantiate their claims with evidenced-based research.
Because products classified as dietary supplements do not require FDA approval before marketing, the goals of the initiative are to ensure product quality and remove unsafe products from the market. For more information, visit http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01130.html.
Incidence of Osteoporosis Is on the Rise
The Surgeon General recently issued a report on the nation's bone health that reports the incidence of osteoporosis is on the rise. The report estimated that by the year 2020 nearly half of all Americans will be at risk for fractures because of low bone mass or osteoporosis. The condition was once thought to be a problem only for women, but men are not immune. The report says osteoporosis is a silent condition that most people do not realize they have until they experience a fracture or some other complication. In addition to describing treatment and early detection strategies, the report provides recommendations for the prevention of osteoporosis starting in early childhood.
The full report is available for download from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/bonehealth/docs/Osteo10sep04.pdf. A consumer brochure that complements the report and includes information on improving bone health is free by calling 1-866-718-BONE.
Why Is Your Patient Taking Cymbalta?
The national focus on patient safety includes a focus on medication errors resulting from similarities in drugs' names and drugs used for multiple problems. Cymbalta, a drug typically used to treat depression, recently has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain. Although Cymbalta does not improve nerve damage, it does reduce the stabbing and throbbing sensation that plagues patients with diabetic neuropathy.
In addition to being aware of the side effects or adverse effects that might occur, clinicians should be sure to determine the reason Cymbalta has been prescribed for a patient. Whether the drug has been prescribed to treat neuropathic pain or depression, the typical dose is 60 to 120 mg daily. Complete information can be found on the Eli Lilly Web site at http://www.cym-balta.com/index.jsp.
The Perils of the Grapefruit Juice-Statin Combination
Caution your patients who routinely take their statin drugs with grapefruit juice that a problem could arise. A recent study determined that the chemical composition of grapefruit juice slows the metabolism of some statin drugs and potentiates their systemic effects. As a result of elevated blood levels, patients may also be at a higher risk to experience liver and muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) associated with statin therapy. Although not every statin drug on the market is susceptible to the grapefruit juice-statin connection, some of those most commonly prescribed are an issue. Additional information is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2004.02095.x/abs/.