A nursing standards-based system that works!

A 200-bed community hospital has been using a standards-based system since 1985 to guide nursing practice and establish the framework for documentation. Managers and staff nurses appreciate this system for its comprehensive yet simple approach, and its value has stood the test of time. The comprehensive standards model and its use are described.

A simplified approach to documentation of inpatient diabetes education.

The DTP/DR is an effective form for planning, implementing, and documenting patient response to diabetes teaching in the inpatient setting. The form improves the consistency of diabetes teaching, the quality of patient care, and the clarity of documentation. Use of the form decreases time required for documentation and facilitates the recording of patient/family responses to teaching.

Interstitially implanted I125 for prostate cancer using transrectal ultrasound.

Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of death from cancer among men in the United States. Traditional treatments for prostate cancer are prostatectomy, external beam irradiation, and interstitial implantation of Iodine125 (I125) via laparotomy. These treatments are associated with significant morbidity and limitations.