Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Grounded Theory Research.

National initiatives in the United States call for health research that addresses racial/ethnic disparities. Although grounded theory (GT) research has the potential to contribute much to the understanding of the health experiences of people of color, the extent to which it has contributed to health disparities research is unclear. In this article we describe a project in which we reviewed 44 GT studies published in Qualitative Health Research within the last five years.

Animal-assisted therapy: evaluation and implementation of a complementary therapy to improve the psychological and physiological health of critically ill patients.

Animal-assisted therapy has gained widespread support in a variety of health care settings, including critical care units. This article seeks to review some of the current animal-assisted therapy, define a structured program, and evaluate the potential ability of the therapy to enhance the progress and health of our patients.

Massage therapy for stress management: implications for nursing practice.

Unresolved stress has been shown to have numerous adverse effects on the body. A review of the literature has revealed 2 major themes: (1) research that argues that massage has a direct relationship with positive health outcomes and (2) research that stresses that although there are little or no measurable physiological changes that occur from massage, patients' perceptions of stress and anxiety were significantly reduced. The simple act of touch-focused care, even a simple 5-min hand or foot massage, can be useful in lowering a patient's perceived level of stress.

Prevention of sepsis after splenectomy.

Individuals who do not have a spleen are highly susceptible to severe infections. The purpose of this article was to present vaccination guidelines for prophylactic treatment of sepsis following splenectomy. Nursing considerations for the prevention of sepsis after splenectomy are discussed.

Prevention of sternal wound infections after coronary artery bypass graft surgery with use of insulin drug therapy: a review of the literature.

Diabetes is a disease that can increase the risks of developing cardiac problems, which can include coronary artery bypass graft surgery. These patients are at an increased risk of developing serious complications after this surgery, including deep sternal wound infections. In addition, nondiabetic patients may also develop this complication.