A secondary analysis to inform a clinical decision rule for predicting skull fracture and intracranial injury in children under age 2.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with the risk of closed head injury (CHI) in children under age 2 years with suspected minor head injuries based on age-appropriate, or near age-appropriate, mental status on an exam. The study was a secondary data analysis of a public-use dataset from the largest prospective, multicenter pediatric head injury study found in the current literature. An existing, validated clinical decision rule was examined using a sample of 3,329 children under age 2 to determine whether it, or the individual variables within it, could be utilized alone, or in conjunction with other variables to accurately predict the risk of underlying CHI in this sample.

We want what's best for our baby: Prenatal Parenting of Babies with Lethal Conditions.

This article reports on qualitative research into the experience of couples who chose to continue their pregnancies after receiving a lethal fetal diagnosis, and to embrace the parenting of their baby in the shortened time they have. This analysis of interview data is part of a larger research project describing parents' experiences of continuing pregnancy with a known lethal fetal diagnosis (LFD).

Predicting folic acid intake among college students.

Purpose: Annually in the United States, approximately 3,000 babies are born with neural tube defects (NTDs). Folic acid supplementation can reduce NTDs by 50% to 70%. Despite recommendations for folic acid intake, only 30% of women ages 18 to 24 report folic acid supplementation and 6% have knowledge of when to take folic acid.

Evidence-based intervention with women pregnant after perinatal loss.

Purpose: To test the feasibility and acceptability of a caring-based nurse home visit intervention for women pregnant after perinatal loss (PAL), the goal of which was to provide a safe, supportive environment, normalize the pregnancy after loss, reduce anxiety and depression through stress reduction skills, and facilitate prenatal attachment.

Study Design And Methods: This mixed methods study was conducted in two phases: Phase I, to determine the components of the intervention, and Phase II, a randomized trial that used the revised intervention components. Pregnant women with a history of at least one perinatal loss (9 in Phase I and 24 in Phase II) were recruited from obstetrical practices.

Prevention of unplanned intensive care unit admissions and hospital mortality by early warning systems.

Researchers have found that patients exhibit physiological changes up to 8 hours prior to an arrest event. Deaths have been attributed to a lack of observation, lack of documentation of observations, inability of a caregiver to recognize early signs of deterioration, and lack of communication between healthcare providers. This integrative review examines early warning scoring systems and their effectiveness in predicting a patient's potential for deterioration and considers whether these scoring systems prevent unplanned intensive care unit admissions and/or death.

Effectiveness of adolescent smoking prevention strategies.

In the past 30 years, nursing knowledge of adolescent healthcare has grown tremendously, and the added knowledge can help us improve the care we provide to adolescents using evidence-based interventions for practice. While substantial progress has been made in reducing the numbers of adolescents who smoke, tobacco use by adolescents continues to be one of the largest public health problems in the United States. Current estimates are that about one in four adolescents smokes cigarettes on a regular basis.