Mobile Computing Devices in the Perioperative Environment: A Survey Exploring Uses and Experiences Among Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.

The use of mobile computing devices (MCDs) such as smartphones, tablet computers, and laptops among Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) in the clinical area may provide benefits as well as pose risks. Limited research is available on the use of MCDs in the practice of nurse anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to answer the following questions: (1) What are the clinical and nonclinical uses of mobile computing devices among Michigan CRNAs? and (2) What are the experiences of Michigan CRNAs with regard to the impact of using these devices on patient care? A descriptive survey design was used to answer the research questions.

Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention for New Nurses.

Nurses continue to sustain musculoskeletal injuries even with increased emphasis on safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) and organizational cultures of safety to protect health care workers. Analysis of data from 2011-2014 registered nurse graduates explored hospital safety culture, SPHM education/training, and incidence of new-nurse musculoskeletal injury. Results indicated hospitals provided some type of SPHM education and training, but 46% of study participants were not informed or aware of national SPHM standards or guidelines.

Student Immersion in Perioperative Nursing.

The aging workforce and the lack of perioperative clinical practice and theoretical content in nursing education programs are factors contributing to the perioperative nursing shortage. This article discusses the implementation of a creatively designed perioperative program, which includes a didactic course and a 210-hour clinical course, developed by the faculty members of a Michigan school of nursing in collaboration with administrators at area hospitals. The didactic content covers materials presented during the first three months of orientation for newly employed perioperative nurses.

Factors Influencing Registered Nurses' Decision to Activate an Adult Rapid Response Team in a Community Hospital.

Background: One factor impacting patient outcomes in the acutely deteriorating patient is a delay by nursing staff to activate a rapid response team (RRT); however, a gap in knowledge exists concerning factors influencing activation of an RRT by nursing staff working in adult areas outside the medical-surgical and telemetry setting.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine beliefs and behaviors that influence registered nurses' decision to activate an adult rapid response team in a community hospital that includes 3 specialties: medical-surgical and telemetry, peripartum, and psychiatric areas.

Methods: One hundred sixty-three nurses were surveyed using a 17-item Likert-style instrument to assess registered nurses' beliefs and attitudes on and barriers to utilizing an RRT.

Patient Satisfaction With Electronic Health Record Use by Primary Care Nurse Practitioners.

The purpose of this research study was to determine if satisfaction and communication between the patient and the nurse practitioner are affected by allowing patients to view their electronic health records during the history portion of the primary care office visit compared with patients who do not view their records. A cross-sectional, experimental design was utilized for this study. The intervention group was shown several components of the electronic health record during the history portion of the nurse practitioner assessment.

Effect of body mass index and albumin on mortality rates for adult African-American hemodialysis patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective descriptive study was to investigate if body mass index (BMI) and serum albumin (SA) impacted mortality rates in adult African-American patients on hemodialysis (HD).

Data Sources: Records of 204 patients on HD (N = 204) from a clinic in the metropolitan Detroit area were examined for the period January 1, 2007-December 31, 2012 to determine the relationship of BMI and SA on mortality rates in this population. Logistics regression was utilized to analyze the association of several risk factors (BMI and SA) on survival (mortality rates).

The efficacy of preemptive analgesia for postoperative pain control: a systematic review of the literature.

The purpose of preemptive analgesia is to reduce postoperative pain, contributing to a more comfortable recovery period and reducing the need for narcotic pain control. The efficacy of preemptive analgesia remains controversial. This systematic review of the literature evaluated the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, and gabapentin as preemptive oral analgesics for surgical patients.

Reducing hospital ICU noise: a behavior-based approach.

Noise in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) is gaining increasing attention as a significant source of stress and fatigue for nursing staff. Extensive research indicates that hospital noise also has negative impact on patients. The objective of this study was to analyze noise variations as experienced by both nursing staff and patients, to gain a better understanding of noise levels and frequencies observed in ICU settings over extended (week-long) durations, and to implement a low cost behavior modification program to reduce noise.

Do higher dispositions for empathy predispose males toward careers in nursing? A descriptive correlational design.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to understand male nursing students' empathy traits compared with other university students using the systematizing quotient and empathizing quotient questionnaires.

Conclusion: Female students have higher empathizing traits than male students. However, when male nursing students were compared with the general population of other male students, they revealed higher empathy traits 3.

Perceptions of weight loss experience between African-Americans and Caucasians: a pilot study.

Background: Obesity is a growing epidemic in the USA, which leads to comorbidities associated with diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, cancer, gallbladder disease, and dyslipidemia. The purpose of this study is to identify perceptions of weight loss experience between African-American (AA) and Caucasian patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Methods: A convenience sample of 31 patients participated in this study from May to June 2013.

Empathy as a determining factor for nursing career selection.

The ability to empathize with others is a highly desirable characteristic for the delivery of quality care by nurses. Little research is available that explores the empathy characteristics of students who are attracted to nursing. The purpose of this study is to explore whether empathizing and systemizing characteristics are important factors underlying students' self-selection into and continuing success in nursing programs and whether the importance of these characteristics tends to differ for men and women who choose nursing as a career.

Cardiovascular disease risk in children and adolescents.

Atherosclerosis is a global health issue beginning in childhood. Children's early development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors may include exposure to key biological components responsible for vascular inflammation in young adults. A retrospective medical record review based on the 2008 American Academy of Pediatrics childhood lipid screening recommendations examined current and initial CVD risk factors for 227 at-risk school-aged children during wellness exams to better determine the age when children are most likely to convert from being risk-free to at risk for CVD.

Accelerated second-degree nursing students: predictors of graduation and NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates.

It is important to understand and identify factors that affect students' academic performance before entry into a nursing program and as they progress through the program. The authors discuss a study, and its outcomes, that assessed accelerated second-degree nursing students' prenursing and core nursing grades that served to predict their success at completing the nursing program and passing NCLEX-RN on first attempt. Strategies were identified to help at-risk students to be successful in the program and with first-time passage of NCLEX-RN.

Relative dose intensity--improving treatment and outcomes in early-stage breast cancer: a retrospective study.

Purpose/objectives: To determine the amount of chemotherapy delivered compared to amount of chemotherapy scheduled by calculating relative dose intensity (RDI) and to identify factors associated with nonadherence of scheduled treatment regimens for patients with early-stage breast cancer (ESBC).

Design: Retrospective, descriptive, correlational study.

Setting: Two community hospital cancer centers in northern Michigan.

Work-related emotional stressors and coping strategies that affect the well-being of nurses working in hemodialysis units.

The purpose of this pilot study was to identify and describe work-related emotional stressors that impact the well-being of nurses working in hemodialysis units and to identify their coping techniques. The literature shows that constant exposure to stressors induces emotional conflict and ambiguity, which results in the use of coping techniques to balance well-being. Nineteen participants from six hemodialysis centers completed the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, a 66-item survey based on a four-point scale.

The use of high-fidelity simulation in the admissions process: one nurse anesthesia program's experience.

Nurse anesthesia programs across the country are frequently in search of better selection criteria and more efficient evaluation systems. The goal is to select qualified applicants who will successfully complete the program and represent the profession of nurse anesthesia. The primary method of assessing the quality of candidates' noncognitive attributes at the Oakland University Beaumont Program of Nurse Anesthesia (Royal Oak, Michigan) was by face-to-face interviews.

Congruence of perceived effective clinical teaching characteristics between students and preceptors of nurse anesthesia programs.

This study continues landmark research, by Katz in 1984 and Hartland and Londoner in 1997, on characteristics of effective teaching by nurse anesthesia clinical instructors. Based on the literature review, there is a highlighted gap in research evaluating current teaching characteristics of clinical nurse anesthesia instructors that are valuable and effective from an instructor's and student's point of view. This study used a descriptive, quantitative research approach to assess (1) the importance of 24 characteristics (22 effective clinical teaching characteristics identified by Katz, and 2 items added for this study) of student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) and clinical preceptors, who are Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and (2) the congruence between the student and preceptor perceptions.

A closer look at academic probation and attrition: what courses are predictive of nursing student success?

The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify undergraduate courses that serve as predictors of success for nursing students completing a BSN program. The sample included records of 327 students placed on probation or dismissed from a Midwest school of nursing between 2002 and 2010. Though previous research has shown that science courses can be used as predictors of nursing student success, our results suggest that non-science courses can serve in this capacity as well.

Understanding overweight adolescents' beliefs using the theory of planned behaviour.

This qualitative inquiry examined adolescents' experiences surrounding their beliefs towards being overweight. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand behavioural, normative and control beliefs of overweight adolescents regarding losing weight, exercising and eating healthy. Purposive sampling was used to obtain 10 overweight adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19.

Nursing practice patterns: timing of insulin administration and glucose monitoring in the hospital.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe diabetes nursing practice patterns related to the timing of morning insulin administration, blood glucose monitoring, and meal intake for patients with type 2 diabetes and to report how frequently nurses were able to meet the expected standard of care.

Methods: Observations were made of 50 incidents of morning diabetes care on medical-surgical units in an acute care setting. Timeliness of rapid-acting insulin administration and glucose monitoring in relation to the morning meal were evaluated, as were the subsequent prelunch glucose levels.

Perceptions, orientation, and transition into nursing practice of accelerated second-degree nursing program graduates.

This study discusses factors that influence newly graduated accelerated second-degree nursing students to remain at the bedside. It also identifies areas for improvement within the program curriculum to better prepare these unique nursing graduates for the transition into nursing practice. Twenty-nine graduate second-degree nursing students were surveyed 3 months after graduation from an accelerated second-degree nursing program.

Parental recognition of postconcussive symptoms in children.

Evaluation of current emergency department discharge instructions and parental recognition of symptomatology requiring further care for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not well understood. A convenience sample of 105 parents of children aged 5 to 17 years who were seen and discharged from the pediatric emergency department with TBI was identified. Parents were surveyed by telephone 2 to 5 days after injury and a questionnaire was completed regarding identification of TBI symptoms.

Nursing leadership style and psychosocial work environment.

Aim: This study examines the relationship between leadership style and the psychosocial work environment of registered nurses.

Background: Research consistently supports the positive relationship between transformational leadership style and job satisfaction. There is less evidence, which identifies the relationship between leadership style and psychosocial work environment.