Propofol as a Drug of Diversion: Changing Disposal Practices to Reduce Risk.

Background: Propofol is a drug of diversion because of its high-volume use, lack of prescribed control mechanisms, and accessibility. As a result, intensive care unit nurses and other health care professionals are placed at unnecessary risk. Decreasing the risk of drug diversion can save lives, licenses, and livelihoods.

Surveillance: A Nursing Intervention for Improving Patient Safety in Critical Care Environment.

Background: Nursing surveillance has been identified as a key intervention in early recognition and prevention of errors/adverse events. Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) defines surveillance as "the purposeful and ongoing acquisition, interpretation, and synthesis of patient data for clinical decision making." Because nurses are the main staffing constant in the critical care environment, the importance of surveillance as an intervention is fundamental.

The Tele-ICU: a new dimension in critical care nursing education and practice.

As health care reform pushes for improved patient care outcomes and reduced costs, tele-intensive care units are increasingly included in the discussion of critical care delivery. Nursing must be involved in the implementation of and education for this transformative initiative.

Cholera in Haiti.

Prior to the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck on January 12, 2010, conditions were dire in Haiti. Now, nearly a year later and with the emergency phase long since over, a cholera epidemic has hit Haiti.

Nursing's role in disclosure and apology.

Although there is general agreement regarding disclosing adverse events to patients and their families, much of the focus in the literature has been on the physician-patient relationship. Nurses are intimately involved in the day-to-day care of patients and their families. This column explores the role of nurses in disclosure and apology.