The AJN Podcast

AJN’s editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy talks with author Donna Sabella about what has become one of the hallmark illnesses among returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans: PTSD.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the November 2012 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month’s cover features military veteran Jim Stanek and his service dog, Sarge, who’s eased Jim’s struggle with PTSD and traumatic brain injury. This issue also offers two CE features: one on recognizing and treating depression in older adults. The second CE explains the use and possible complications of needleless connectors for IV catheters. This month’s mental health column explores the current rise in PTSD among veterans and how nurses can recognize this condition. And of course, there’s News, an AJN Reports on helping veterans access specialty care, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, and more.

Brigadier General (RET) Bill Bester MSN, RN, NEA-BC speaks with editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy about health care for veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The majority of these new veterans will access care outside of the VA health system and it’s important that nurses in all clinical settings be aware of the health issues of this emerging population.

AJN’s clinical managing editor Karen Roush speaks with authors Mary Anne McCabe and Eileen Toughill about their article which explores treatments, testing, and symptoms of celiac disease.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the October 2012 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month’s political illustration, leading up to the November presidential election, is the first cartoon to appear on AJN’s cover. This issue also offers two CE features: one on the psychosocial issues nurses should consider when interacting with women who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. The second CE explains the pathophysiology of celiac disease, its signs and symptoms, testing, treatments, and nursing implications. The first of a three-part “Legal Clinic” series discusses the legal implications of professional licensure. And of course, there’s News, an AJN Reports on healthcare reform and the homeless, Drug Watch, Journal Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, and more.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy speaks with Edie Brous, an active defense lawyer for over 30 years. Her series, debuting in October 2012, is designed to educate readers on misconceptions around nursing board actions, what actions nurses should take if they are called before the board, and strategies to safeguard their nursing license.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the September 2012 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month’s cover photos come from a new book called The American Nurse due to come out in late October. You can listen to a podcast interview with the author/photographer of the book, Carolyn Jones. This month offers two CE features: one on the five most common bariatric surgery procedures with illustrations and nursing implications. The second CE explains delirium as a common postoperative outcome in elderly patients, offers tools for assessment, intervention strategies, and includes a link to a related video from our “How to Try This” series. A clinical feature on biomarkers describes this clinical assessment tool that’s becoming part of every step of patient care, particularly for diagnosing illnesses. And of course there’s News, an AJN Reports on new regulations for pain medications, an iNurse article on tablet technology, Drug Watch, Journal Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, and more.

Associate editor Alison Bulman interviews Carolyn Jones, who discusses her new book, The American Nurse. Rhonda Collins, MSN, RN, came up with the idea for the book as part of the American Nurse Project. Collins is vice president and business manager of infusion therapy/clinical nutrition company Fresenius Kabi USA, which supported the project. Jones traveled the country in search of “the best of the best” nurses, from those working with coal miners with black lung disease, to prison inmates, veterans, and some of the nation’s poorest populations. Knowing nothing about nurses when starting the project, by the end, Jones understood what nurses really do, witnessed how much of themselves they bring to patient care, and her 75 black-and-white portraits of them tell their stories with heart and profound respect.

Clinical managing editor Karen Roush interviews Acieta Small, who discusses her implementation of a staff education program for improved patient care while she managed a med-surge unit at New York University’s large teaching facility, Langone Medical Center, in New York City. A quality of care assessment of the unit, staffed with long-term nursing attendants and RNs, found that patient care services were negatively impacted by practice issues such as attendant accuracy with vital signs, recording intake and output, and communication among the technicians and nurses. Although the RNs were involved in continuing education opportunities, technicians were not. Nurses volunteered to lead an initiative to upgrade technicians’ skills by addressing their educational needs. Both collaborated to define staff roles, which enhanced their team spirit for better patient care.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the August 2012 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month offers two CE features: one is original research describing the experiences of adolescents in an Australian inpatient behavioral program for the treatment of anorexia and how both nurses and patients’ perceptions of the program as a metaphoric prison hinders therapeutic relationships. The second CE feature begins a three-part series exploring the push for health information technology and it uses and effects on nursing. Other features include a quality improvement project implementing CE for patient care technicians, evidence-based management of acute infectious diarrhea, a historical piece from a male nurse who graduated in 1929, the story of how Korean nurses in New England joined together to increase access to care for their community, and a profile of a nurse who will be an Olympic torch carrier. And of course there’s News, an AJN Reports on controversies around patient satisfaction surveys, Drug Watch, Journal Watch, Art of Nursing, and Reflections, “ In the News”, and more. You can listen to podcast interviews with the authors of the QI project.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the July issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month offers two CE features: one is original research exploring the barriers and facilitators to implementing and following clinical guidelines among nurses. The second CE feature focuses on the use of therapeutic hypothermia following cardiac arrest – its uses, induction, adverse effects on nursing care. Other features include a look at commonly used dietary supplements by patients with diabetes, the use of community health workers in chronic care, especially diabetes, and the story of how an NP at a public hospital in San Francisco began a Bridge Clinic to improve transitions from hospital to primary care. And of course there’s News, an AJN Reports on disappearance of nurses at WHO, Drug Watch, Journal Watch, Art of Nursing, and Reflections, “ In the News”, and more. You can listen to podcast interviews with David Benton, CEO of the International Council of Nurses on the lack of nurses at the WHO, and with the authors of the Bridge Clinic.

Patients transitioning from hospital to outpatient primary care often have difficulty navigating the health system, making appointments, understanding their care regimens. This is especially true for those with complex needs, poor education, lack of housing and resources. NP Eliza Newbold and physician colleague Michelle Schneidermann discuss how their clinic came to be with AJN’s editor in chief, Shawn Kennedy and describe its impact on patient transitions.

According to the ICN, there were approximately 200 nurses working for the WHO in 1968; today that figure has dropped to eight. Further, the position of Chief Scientist, Nursing and Midwifery, a directorate position, has not been replaced. AJN’s editor in chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush discuss the ramifications of the diminished nursing presence at the WHO with Benton and how ICN is putting pressure on the WHO to reinstate a nursing presence.

Boards of nursing exist to protect the public, and when they receive a complaint against a nurse, they must launch an investigation. AJN’s editor in chief Shawn Kennedy and Mangin, a nurse-turned-attorney, discuss what nurses need to know about how boards of nursing function and what to do if they come under investigation by a nursing board.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the June issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month offers two CE features: one (“Managing Menopause Symptoms”) the third installment in our series on women’s health, and the other describing von Willebrand Disease, a common bleeding disorder. There are also features on interdisciplinary team training, what to do if you come under investigation by a state board of nursing, a Safety Monitor column on negative pressure wound therapy, and an article from Australia describing one hospital’s reasons for and experience pursuing Magnet accreditation. And there are columns on Drug Watch, Journal Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, “In the News”, and more. You can listen to podcast interviews with authors of the Viewpoint on why teens shouldn’t need consent to receive the HPV vaccine and the piece on nursing boards

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States and the primary cause of cervical cancer. In this interview with AJN’s editor in chief Shawn Kennedy, author Dang reasons why she supports the passage of the California law allowing children 12 years and older to self-consent for preventive services to reduce transmission of STDs.

AJN’s editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy talks with author Ellen Baer about her historical article, in which she postulates that distinct periods in nursing’s early formal development were dominated by particular themes.

Interview with Marilyn H. Oermann, co-author of “Competence in CPR,” (May 2012) and with Jo Haag, Director Global Training, ECC Programs, American Heart Association and Mary Fran Hazinski, Professor, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, and Clinical Specialist, Pediatric Critical Care at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and Senior Science Editor for the American Heart Association . (From left: Hazinski, Oermann, Haag)

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the May issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month offers two CE features: one an original research piece (“The Effects of Active Warming on Patient Temperature and Pain After Total Knee Arthroplasty”), and the other a case study on posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. There are also features on maintaining competence in CPR, and two historical features – “Key Ideas in Nursing’s First Century” and a piece on the 50th anniversary of the coronary care unit, and columns on Drug Watch, Journal Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, “ In the News”, and more. You can listen to podcast interviews with authors of the CPR piece (as well as a video from the American Heart Association) and nursing ideas.

An estimated 62 million adult Americans lived with some type of disability in 2001-2005…”, explains researcher Suzanne Smeltzer in her introduction. And many of these people end up in hospitals and often feel unsafe. AJN’s editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy talks with author Smeltzer about her research and is joined by the authors (both of whom have disabilities from multiple sclerosis) of a companion piece who discuss their experiences.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical managing editor Karen Roush present the highlights of the April issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month offers two CE features: one an original research piece (“Interactions of People with Disabilities and Nursing Staff During Hospitalization”), and the other a feature on underutilization of emergency contraception. There are also columns on Policy and Politics, Emerging Infections, and evidence-based management of cancer fatigue, plus Art of Nursing, Reflections, “In the News”, and more. You can listen to podcast interviews with the CE feature authors, too.

Despite the availability of effective contraceptive methods, unintended pregnancy continues to be a significant health problem for women throughout the world. Clinical Managing Editor, Karen Roush, talks to Kit Devine about her article on the underutilization of emergency contraception. They discuss some of the issues surrounding emergency contraception and Devine talks about how nurses can help increase awareness of emergency contraception, correct common misconceptions, and facilitate patient access.

AJN The American Journal of Nursing Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, with over 10% of the U.S. adult population living with OA, and by 2030, that number is expected to increase to 67 million adults. AJN collaborated with the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, and the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses on this project to engage nurses in the national public health initiative on OA. The multidisciplinary invitational symposium brought together 40 participants involved in research, practice, teaching or advocacy. AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy discusses OA and the findings of the report with Laura Robbins (left) and Marje Kulesa, co-leaders of the project. To read the full report, go to http://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Pages/SOS.aspx

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy present the highlights of the March issue of the American Journal of Nursing. This month features two CE offerings: original research on new nurses and the influence of the recession on their inclination to stay in their current positions and the first article in a two-part series on managing COPD. There is also a special online report, The State of the Science on Prevention and Management of Osteoarthritis (the executive summary will be available in print). Other notable articles include one by Susan Hassmiller showcasing several nurses who’ve gained seats on Boards, and examination of a common ethical issue- hiding medications in food. There’s also News, an archival piece on arthritis management, Reflections, Art of Nursing, and Drug Watch.

Clinical Managing Editor, Karen Roush, talks with Susan Letvak about her research on nurse’s presenteeism, the loss of productivity associated with working with health problems. Letvak discusses why presenteeism is prevalent in nursing, the impact it has on quality of care, and its economic costs. She gives nurses ideas on what can be done to decrease presenteeism – from the role of the bedside nurse to the organizational and policy levels.

In this interview, Karen Roush talks with Donna Sabella about her new column in AJN, Mental Health Matters. Sabella always knew she wanted to specialize in mental health and she shares her enthusiasm for this often maligned area of nursing. Sabella talks about the important role nurses have in providing mental health care and some of the rewards and challenges it presents. All nurses need to be able to recognize and respond to mental health needs, whether for a grief-stricken family member in the ICU or a patient with decompensated schizophrenia in the Emergency Department.

Clinical Managing Editor Karen Roush presents the highlights of the February 2012 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. There are two CE features: one is original research on presenteeism in nursing and its effect on self-reported quality of care and costs, and the other is a clinical article on bedside assessment of enteral feeding tubes. We introduce Mental Health Matters, a new column designed to give nurses in every setting the information, tools, and resources they need to provide quality mental health care. Other articles include an overview of the National Disaster Medical System, a Safety Monitor piece on preventing harm during vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery, a Policy and Politics piece on Accountable Care Organizations, News, Drug Watch, Reflections and more. There are also podcasts with the author of the research on presenteeism and the new mental health column coordinator.

Accidental hypothermia can be deadly, and as Davis points out in his article, it can happen quickly and go unrecognized. AJN’s Clinical Managing Editor, Karen Roush, interviews Davis about this condition and what nurses in every setting need to know to recognize and manage it when it occurs.

In her Viewpoint, Diers talks how we count nurses and points out the many places nurses can be found – places where they often aren’t counted and should be. AJN’s Clinical Managing Editor, Karen Roush, interviews Diers about why this is important and what nurses can do to make sure that they, and the many-faceted roles they take on, are counted.

Clinical Managing Editor, Karen Roush, presents the highlights of the January 2012 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. There are two CE features: one is original research on increasing the use of Smart Pump libraries and the other is a clinical article on accidental hypothermia. Other articles include a review of cardiac catheterization through the radial artery; a piece discussing information systems and decision support; and the first article in our new column, Critical Analysis in Critical Care, looking at CVP monitoring; News, Drug Watch, Reflections and more. There are also podcasts with the author of the Viewpoint on how we count nurses, and with the author of the article on accidental hypothermia.

Although she clearly supports breastfeeding as the evidence-based best practice for infant nutrition, Humphries wonders if nurses’ emphasis on breastfeeding may interfere with the nurse-mother relationship if mothers feel pressured or coerced. AJN’s editor-in-chief, Shawn Kennedy, interviews Humphries about her work and experience with mothers and implications for nurses.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy presents the highlights of the December 2011 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. There are two CE features: one is original research on paper as a vehicle for transmitting bacteria, and the other is a clinical article on sarcopenic obesity. Other articles include an update on influenza vaccination guidelines for the 2011-2012 flu season; a piece discussing effective care measures and how nurses are involved in determining them and collecting data; and the final article in our three-part series on supporting family caregivers; plus a Cochrane Corner on use of probiotics in treating diarrhea in children, News, Drug Watch, Reflections and more. There’s also a video as supplemental content to the caregiving article, and a podcast with the author of the Viewpoint on breastfeeding promotion.

Editor-in-chief, Shawn Kennedy, interviews Cindy Nigolian, one of the authors of the second installment in our series on supporting family caregivers. She provides context for her work, and emphasizes the importance of creating an environment conducive to learning, and the use of “teach-backs” to assure the caregiver understands needed concepts.

Editor-in-chief, Shawn Kennedy, interviews April Gerlock about her research on documentation of screening veterans with PTSD for intimate partner violence (IPV). She found that only one-quarter of these men – considered a high risk group for IPV – had screening documented. Gerlock also talks about how nurses in any setting can use brief encounters to screen for IPV and provides some suggestions for responding.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy presents the highlights of the November 2011 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. There are two CE articles: one is original research, examining how veterans with PTSD (a high risk group for intimate partner violence) are screened for IPV (researchers found only ¼ had screening documented), and the other is an article addressing traumatic injuries in older adults. Other articles include a companion piece to the original research which examines techniques nurses can use for screening for IPV; the second installment in our series on supporting family caregivers (with an accompanying video); an article on reducing 30 day readmission rates; AJN Reports on controversies around childhood vaccinations; plus News, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, Reflections, and more. There’s also podcasts with authors Nigolian (the family caregiving article) and Gerlock (original research), providing context around their work.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy presents the highlights of the October 2011 issue of the American Journal of Nursing, which debuts a three part series on supporting family caregivers which will run through the end of the year. Each article has an accompanying video. There are two CE articles: one is original research, a systematic review of practices and provider and patient attitudes around deactivation of implantable cardiac defibrillators at the end of life, and the other is an article reviewing the evidence and calling for the abandonment of outdated preoperative fasting practices. Other articles include clinical features examining treatment options for patients with kidney failure and medication calculations, a column examining the ethical issues that may arise when best practices may not be so for particular patients, plus News, Drug Watch, Reflections, and more. There’s also podcasts with authors Levine (the family caregiving article), Russo (original research piece), and Crenshaw (preoperative fasting CE piece).

Editor-in-chief, Shawn Kennedy interviews Jeannette Crenshaw about her work exploring the evidence for NOT supporting NPO After Midnight as a routine preoperative practice. She explains that it’s not just about allowing clear fluids because it’s safe, but “because it’s safer.” European physician and nursing societies all endorse recommendations for allowing carbohydrate-rich clear liquids – as well as other clear liquids – two to three hours before surgery, so why does U.S. practice lag behind?

Drawing upon her own experience when she suddenly found herself in the role of a caregiver and through her work with other family caregivers, Carol Levine became acutely aware that few caregivers really get what they need to prepare them for their roles as caregivers. In this first article in the series, she discusses with AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy how she became involved in working with caregivers and the importance of assessing the caregiver’s needs from the caregiver’s point of view. Also, see the accompanying video.

AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy talks with the author about the scant research available and suggests ways to open discussions around this sensitive issue.

A national expert in disaster preparedness education and training, Tener Veenema speaks with AJN editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy about the state of readiness of U.S. nurses to respond to disasters, and what work still needs to be done for the nursing workforce to be prepared.

The suicide rate among children and adolescents has steadily risen and many of these children are first seen in hospital EDs. Children’s Hospital Boston has developed a treatment algorithm to facilitate screening, assessment and intervention in the ED. AJN editor in chief Shawn Kennedy and senior editor Sylvia Foley discuss the case that prompted this article with authors Alexis Schmid and Frances Damian, as well as key points about pediatric suicide and what ED nurses need to keep in mind with these troubled children.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy presents the highlights of the September 2011 issue of the American Journal of Nursing, which features acknowledgement of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks: a cover painting by artist and nurse Charles Kaiman, a guest editorial and a special report interviewing several nurses whose lives were changed by the events of 9/11. There are also two CE articles: one is original research on patients’ experiences with blood transfusions, and the other is a case study on managing pediatric suicide in the ED. Other articles include a QI piece on establishing a unit-based nurse resource program in a community hospital, a column examining patient privacy in social media, and the final installment in our EBP, Step-by-Step series; plus News, Drug Watch, Reflections and more. There’s also podcasts with authors Veenema (guest editorial), Kaiman (cover artist), and Alexis Schmid and Frances Damian, two of the coauthors of the pediatric suicide CE article.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy chats with Charles Kaiman, an artist whose work has been featured over the years in AJN. Kaiman is also a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist who works with veterans suffering from PTSD. They discuss his cover painting, “America the Beautiful,” his recollections of 9/11, and how his work and his art balance each other.

As a FNP searching for evidence-based information for her female patients and then when seeking information for herself, Karen Roush found few science-based articles about managing osteoporosis. So she researched the literature and wrote about it for consumers, as part of a book on menopause, and now in this review article, which summarizes current evidence-based information on preventing and managing osteoporosis. This is the second article in Roush’s series on postmenopausal women’s health. Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy discusses the issues with author Roush.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy presents the highlights of the August 2011 issue of the American Journal of Nursing, which features two CE articles: one is a review article on prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (part two in our series on postmenopausal women’s health), and the other is a case study of a person who died from colon perforation from a fecal impaction. Other articles include a piece on an innovative patient teaching project using a smart phone; description of a screening tool for osteoporosis; a look at children’s psychological and emotional recovery six years after Hurricane Katrina; the final installment of our Letters from Afghanistan series by army nurse Christopher Vanfosson, describing his transition home; a profile of a nursing CNO and hospital colleagues who have a rock band; plus News, Drug Watch, Reflections and more. Also, there are podcasts with authors Vanfosson and Karen Roush, author of the osteoporosis CE article.

Editor-in-chief, Shawn Kennedy, speaks with U.S. Army nurse Major Christopher Vanfosson, author of our series, Letters From Afghanistan, which ends with the September 2011 issue. Major Vanfosson’s articles chronicled his year-long deployment to Afghanistan with a forward surgical team. In this interview, he talks about his experience, his homecoming and his current assignment.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy presents the highlights of the July 2011 issue of the American Journal of Nursing, which features two CE articles: one is original research, a study on social networking patterns of adolescents and internet sexual offenders, and another a review on current management of multiple sclerosis (MS). Other articles include a piece on maintaining sexuality in MS; a Cultivating Quality column about a project at Boston Children’s Hospital to teach nurses about insulin pumps; another installment from our very popular series, Evidence-Based Practice, Step by Step; an AJN Reports new trends in trauma care; plus News, Drug Watch, and more. There’s also a podcast with Elizabeth Dowdell, coauthor of the social networking study.

Editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy discusses with Dowdell her ground-breaking research on risky Internet behaviors in adolescents and young adults and where it may intersect with the online activity of sexual offenders. The results are concerning and point to areas where safeguards and education are needed.

After investigation into a hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas revealed that nurses knew there were poor infection control practices but did nothing for fear of retaliation, the Nevada Nurses Association enlisted Lisa Black to survey Nevada nurses to determine their experiences and workplace attitudes about advocating for patients. AJN’s editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy, along with senior editor Sylvia Foley, discuss the results with Black, including the survey’s use in successful passage of whistleblower protection laws in Nevada.

Interim editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy and clinical editor Christine Moffa discuss the highlights of the June issue of the American Journal of Nursing, which features two CE articles: original research of nurses’ attitudes towards advocating for safe practices that was used to support passage of whistleblower protections in Nevada, and a review of the evidence around menopausal hormone therapy. Other articles include a piece on the rise of pertussis infections, and article on managing Kawasaki Disease, a piece on improving the nursing workforce in Malawi, a historical piece on the Italian device to protect the identify of unwed mothers giving their children up for adoption, and of course, News, Drug Watch, Art of Nursing, and Reflections. There’s also a podcast with the nurses portrayed on our cover – Anne Mitchell and Vicki Galle - the Texas nurses who were arrested for whistleblowing against unsafe medical practice.