CE: Nurses Are More Exhausted Than Ever: What Should We Do About It?

For nurses, the challenges posed by demanding work environments and schedules often lead to fatigue, and this can be exacerbated during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, the authors discuss causes and challenges of nurse fatigue and consider several evidence-based strategies and solutions for individual nurses and organizations. Barriers to implementation, including a negative workplace culture and inadequate staffing, are also described, and several resources are presented.

Comparison of Health Buddy with traditional approaches to heart failure management.

The purpose of this pilot study was to (a) determine the feasibility of providing a heart failure disease management program through an in-home telehealth communication device (Health Buddy) and (b) compare the effectiveness of the Health Buddy with traditional home management strategies (telephonic, home visit) in achieving selected patient outcomes (self-efficacy, functional status, depression, and health-related quality of life). Ninety participants completed the study through 2 months. Thirty percent of participants were either eliminated prior to or withdrawn after enrollment from the study based on Health Buddy issues.

Symptom status and quality-of-life outcomes of home-based disease management program for heart failure patients.

Symptom occurrence, symptom characteristics (frequency, severity, interference with activities and enjoyment of life), and quality of life were examined in heart failure patients after release from the hospital and 2 months after enrollment in a home-based disease management program. The results provide information on the most common and distressing symptoms in a community-based heart failure population. This information may be useful in guiding assessments and designing specific nursing interventions to include in a home-based disease management program.