Microbial Growth on the Nails of Direct Patient Care Nurses Wearing Nail Polish.

Objectives: To determine whether nurses wearing nail polish pose a greater infection risk to patients than nurses who are not wearing nail polish.

Sample & Setting: 89 direct patient care oncology nurses at a large midwestern National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center.

Methods & Variables: The investigators assigned participants' three middle fingers of their dominant hand to three groups.

Pain Assessment: Use of the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale in Patients With Cancer.

Background: Thorough, consistent pain assessment and reassessment are critical to guide and evaluate interventions designed to improve pain.

Objectives: Based on a literature review about functional pain assessment, clinicians selected and then implemented the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) as a pain assessment instrument option in a comprehensive cancer center.

Methods: The DVPRS was added as a pain assessment instrument in clinical oncology practice.