Closing the Workforce Staffing Chasm by Breaking Boundaries: Innovative Partnerships and Strategies Between Recruitment and Nursing.

As hospitals are experiencing a nursing shortage, nursing leaders must build innovative partnerships and strategies between nursing and recruitment to close the workforce gap. One large health care system was experiencing a high vacancy rate. To improve recruitment and retention efforts, nursing leaders partnered with the recruitment department and other key stakeholders to develop strategies.

Clinical outcomes and transfusion management following intracranial hemorrhage in patients with acute leukemia.

Background: There is little evidence to guide management of patients with acute leukemia and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Predictors of long-term outcome following ICH are unknown.

Study Design And Methods: This study included adult patients with acute leukemia and ICH over an 8-year period.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) - Part 1: An overview of the diagnosis and treatment of the "classical" MPNs.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are rare, yet potentially life-threatening, disorders caused by overproliferation of bone marrow stem cells. The symptom burden experienced by patients with the BCR-ABL1-negative MPNs (also referred to as the classical MPNs, i.e.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) - Part 2: A nursing guide to managing the symptom burden of MPNs.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are rare, yet potentially life-threatening, disorders caused by overproliferation of bone marrow stem cells. The symptom burden experienced by patients with the BCR-ABL1-negative MPNs (also referred to as the classical MPNs, i.e.

Sharing post-AML consolidation supportive therapy with local centers reduces patient travel burden without compromising outcomes.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is frequently treated with induction and consolidation chemotherapy. Consolidation chemotherapy can be delivered on an ambulatory basis, requiring some patients to travel long distances for treatment at specialized centers. We developed a shared care model where patients receive consolidation chemotherapy at a quaternary center, but post-consolidation supportive care at local hospitals.

Management of iron overload in the Canadian hematology/oncology population: Implications for nursing practice.

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are vital for many patients with chronic anemias associated with oncologic/hematologic disorders. However, repeated transfusions over time can lead to iron overload, which, if left untreated, can increase the risk of further malignancy and end-organ damage. Nurses and other health care professionals may not be aware of the significant implications of RBC transfusions and iron overload in patients with hematological/oncological disorders.

Tolerability of Vidaza (azacitidine) subcutaneous administration using a maximum volume of 3 ml per injection.

The azacitidine (Vidaza®) product monograph indicates that doses greater than 4 ml should be divided equally into two syringes and injected into different sites. Although 2 ml is a more commonly used maximum volume for subcutaneous injections, there is a lack of evidence to support the use of any given maximum volume with azacitidine. Applying the status quo of 2 ml to azacitidine results in patients receiving 3-4 injections per visit.

Carotenoids and amphibians: effects on life history and susceptibility to the infectious pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

Carotenoids are considered beneficial nutrients because they provide increased immune capacity. Although carotenoid research has been conducted in many vertebrates, little research has been done in amphibians, a group that is experiencing global population declines from numerous causes, including disease. We raised two amphibian species through metamorphosis on three carotenoid diets to quantify the effects on life-history traits and post-metamorphic susceptibility to a fungal pathogen (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis; Bd).

Application of a robot for critical care rounding in small rural hospitals.

The purpose of this article is to present an option for a model of care that allows small rural hospitals to be able to provide specialty physicians for critical care patient needs in lieu of on-site critical care physician coverage. A real-time, 2-way audio and video remote presence robot is used to bring a specialist to the bedside to interact with patients. This article discusses improvements in quality and finance outcomes as well as care team and patient satisfaction associated with this model.

Counselling and adverse event management for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes undergoing azacitidine therapy: a practice standard for Canadian nurses.

Azacitidine (5-azacytidine, VIDAZA) is a disease-modifying agent that improves survival, reduces transfusion dependence, and reduces progression to acute myeloid leukemia in patients with higher risk myelodysplastic syndromes. Azacitidine injection is associated with characteristic adverse events (AEs) that must be managed in order for patients to stay on therapy and achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes. These AEs include injection-site reactions, cytopenias, and gastrointestinal effects.

Update on the science of myelodysplastic syndromes.

Scientific research is only just beginning to shed light on the pathobiology underlying the various subtypes of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a heterogeneous group of clonal stem cell disorders characterized by cytopenias that can progress to acute myeloid leukemia. Increased understanding of the disease and prognostic implications of specific clinical features has aided in the development of prescribing guidelines and new treatments for MDS. Because oncology nurses have frequent interactions with patients during diagnostic and therapeutic evaluations, an understanding of the science behind disease classification, prognostic scoring, and the goals of treatment for low- and high-risk disease is important to answer questions regarding diagnostic results, treatment outcomes, and adverse event monitoring.

Feasibility of outpatient consolidation chemotherapy in older versus younger patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Intensive consolidation chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in complete remission is being increasingly administered on an outpatient basis. Although this approach has been found to be safe and feasible in younger patients, its safety in older patients remains unknown. We therefore undertook an evaluation of outpatient-based consolidation chemotherapy in older AML patients, and compared results to younger patients treated at the same institution over the same time period.

Use of learning styles to enhance graduate education.

This study was carried out to help occupational therapy students utilize learning strategies necessary to be successful at the graduate level. Students completed The Kolb Learning Style Inventory and Motivation Strategies for Learning Questionnaire to identify their personal learning preferences. These preferences were used as the basis for a remediation program carried out during the second semester of the curriculum following less than adequate performance during the first semester in basic science content.

Getting results for hematology patients through access to the electronic health record.

Purpose: To conduct a needs assessment to identify patient and provider perceptions about providing patients with access to their electronic health record in order to develop an online system that is appropriate for all stakeholders.

Methods: Malignant hematology patients were surveyed and health care providers were interviewed to identify issues and validate concerns reported in the literature. Based on the analysed data, a prototype will be designed to examine the feasibility and efficacy of providing patients with access to their electronic health record and tailored information.