Differences in coronary artery disease complexity and associations with mortality and hospital admissions among First Nations and non-First Nations patients undergoing angiography: a comparative retrospective matched cohort study.

Background: First Nations people are more likely than the general population to experience long-term adverse health outcomes after coronary angiography. Our aim was to quantify the extent of coronary artery disease among First Nations and non-First Nations patients undergoing angiography to investigate differences in coronary artery disease and related health disparities.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study to compare health outcomes of First Nations and non-First Nations adult patients (> 18 yr) who underwent index angiography between Apr.

Clinical placement anxiety in undergraduate nursing students: A concept analysis.

Objective: The primary aim of this review was to complete an in-depth analysis of clinical placement anxiety in undergraduate nursing students. Our overall goal was to establish a strong foundation for clinical education strategies and future research on clinical placement anxiety in nursing education.

Design & Methods: We utilized Walker and Avant's systematic 8-step approach to concept analysis as a framework to develop a comprehensive understanding of clinical placement anxiety in undergraduate students.

Exploring Stroke Outcomes Following a Door-to-Needle Quality Improvement Project.

Background: Although stroke rates in Canada are expected to increase dramatically over the next decade, time-driven hyperacute stroke care with thrombolysis increases the likelihood of a good clinical outcome. Following a period of suboptimal performance results for stroke care, our tertiary care center undertook a door-to-needle (DTN) quality improvement initiative. The purpose of our study was to determine if the resulting improved median DTN times and greater proportion of patients treated within 60 minutes of arrival at our emergency department were associated with improved clinical outcomes.

Cardiovascular Medication Use and Long-Term Outcomes of First Nations and Non-First Nations Patients Following Diagnostic Angiography: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background In Canada, First Nations (FN) people are at greater risk of mortality than the general population following index angiography. This disparity has not been investigated while considering guideline-recommended cardiovascular medication use. Methods and Results Retrospective analysis of administrative health data investigated patterns of medication dispensation during the first year after index angiography among patients in Manitoba, Canada.

Health Outcome and Follow-up Care Differences Between First Nation and Non-First Nation Coronary Angiogram Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: First Nations (FN) people experience high rates of ischemic heart disease (IHD) morbidity and mortality. Increasing access to angiography may lead to improved outcomes. We compared various outcomes and follow-up care post-index angiography between FN and non-FN patients.

Index coronary angiography use in Manitoba, Canada: a population-level descriptive analysis of First Nations and non-First Nations recipients.

Objectives: To investigate recipient characteristics and rates of index angiography among First Nations (FN) and non-FN populations in Manitoba, Canada.

Setting: Population-based, secondary analysis of provincial administrative health data.

Participants: All adults 18 years or older who received an index angiogram between 2000/2001 and 2008/2009.

Test Anxiety in the Nursing Skills Laboratory: A Concept Analysis.

Background: The concept of test anxiety has been well documented within the health education literature, with much of the literature addressing the clinical environment and simulation laboratories. Minimal exploration of test anxiety has been conducted within the context of a nursing skills laboratory.

Aim: This concept analysis of test anxiety will provide clarity to the meaning and use of this concept within the nursing educational setting of a controlled skills laboratory.

Reframing tobacco dependency management in acute care: A case study.

Effective tobacco dependence treatment within acute care tends to be inadequate. The purpose of the Utilizing best practices to Manage Acute care patients Tobacco Dependency (UMAT) was to implement and evaluate an evidence-based intervention to support healthcare staff to effectively manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms of acute surgical patients. Data collection for this one-year longitudinal case study included: relevant patient experiences and staff reported practice, medication usage, and chart review.

Exploring the Perceptions and Health Behaviours of Patients Following an Elective Ad-hoc Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Qualitative Study.

Results: Participants expressed uncertainty about their future health and feared disease recurrence, which appeared to provide motivation for adopting a healthier lifestyle. Although two participants voiced the belief that the elective PCI cured their disease, this perception did not appear to influence their engagement in risk reduction behaviours. However, systemfactors such as a lack of information, direction, and/or support from health care providers appeared to play a limiting role in their ability to move forward with lifestyle change.

Emergency Nurses' Perspectives: Factors Affecting Caring.

Unlabelled: Caring is a universal phenomenon. However, as a result of higher patient acuity and staff shortages within the chaotic ED environment, caring behaviors may be in peril. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the meaning of caring from the perspective of emergency nurses.

Identifying the key predictors for retention in critical care nurses.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the key predictors of retention in nurses working in critical care areas.

Background: The shortage of critical care nurses is reaching crisis proportions in Canada and throughout the industrialized world. Identifying the key influencing (i.

Protocol for the PREHAB study-Pre-operative Rehabilitation for reduction of Hospitalization After coronary Bypass and valvular surgery: a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterised by reductions in muscle mass, strength, endurance and activity level. The frailty syndrome, prevalent in 25-50% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, is associated with increased rates of mortality and major morbidity as well as function decline postoperatively. This trial will compare a preoperative, interdisciplinary exercise and health promotion intervention to current standard of care (StanC) for elective coronary artery bypass and valvular surgery patients for the purpose of determining if the intervention improves 3-month and 12-month clinical outcomes among a population of frail patients waiting for elective cardiac surgery.

Exploring professional development needs of educators in the health sciences professions.

An increasing number of institutions of higher education are clustering their health sciences schools into a common unit. Therefore, it is imperative that the individual faculty development units assume new mandates to meet faculty development needs for stakeholders across these disciplines. Critical to providing current and relevant professional development activities is an awareness of the needs of academicians, including common as well as discipline-specific needs.

Post-operative nausea and vomiting in the cardiac surgery population: who is at risk?

Objectives: Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common and distressing complication following cardiac surgery. Therefore, our primary objective was to explore the predictors of severe PONV in the cardiac surgery population.

Methods: A retrospective study was completed on cardiac surgery patients (N = 150).

Prehabilitation program for elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients: a pilot randomized controlled study.

Objective: To determine the feasibility of a cardiac prehabilitation (Prehab) program for patients waiting for elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

Design: A two-group parallel randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Medical fitness facility.

Building emotional intelligence: a strategy for emerging nurse leaders to reduce workplace bullying.

Bullying is one of the most concerning forms of aggression in health care organizations. Conceptualized as an emotion-based response, bullying is often triggered by today's workplace challenges. Unfortunately, workplace bullying is an escalating problem in nursing.

Exploring outcomes of a nurse practitioner-managed cardiac surgery follow-up intervention: a randomized trial.

Aims: To describe and compare the outcomes of a nurse practitioner-managed cardiac surgery follow-up model of care with the standard model of primary care provider follow-up for coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients.

Background: Advances in healthcare have had a favourable impact on length of stay following cardiac surgery; however, the shorter length of stay has not been accompanied by enhanced support to bridge the gap between acute care and the community setting.

Design: Prospective (2009-2010) randomized study.

Exploring the key predictors of retention in emergency nurses.

Aim: To explore the factors that predict the retention of nurses working in emergency departments.

Background: The escalating shortage of nurses is one of the most critical issues facing specialty areas, such as the emergency department. Therefore, it is important to identify the key influencing and intermediary factors that affect emergency department nurses' intention to leave.

My abstract was accepted--now what? A guide to effective conference presentations.

Although conference presentations are central to the dissemination of new nursing knowledge, public speaking can be a daunting prospect. The purpose of this article is to provide nurses with the essential tools to deliver a successful conference presentation. Accordingly, the all-too-familiar steps of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation provide an organizational framework for a practical guide to developing and executing a relatively stress-free, effective presentation.

Transitioning into the nurse practitioner role through mentorship.

Transitioning into the nurse practitioner (NP) role is stressful. The stress arises from both internal or personal and external or organizational and professional sources. The novice NP may have a sense of inadequacy and lack of confidence in the ability to provide optimal patient care.

Improving cardiovascular health with motivational interviewing: A nurse practitioner perspective.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to provide nurse practitioners (NPs) with an evidence-based counseling strategy for motivating patients to adopt healthier cardiovascular lifestyles and reduce their cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. A comprehensive overview of motivational interviewing (MI), framed within the context of the transtheoretical model of change (TTM), demonstrates how primary care NPs can utilize this counseling approach to optimize cardiovascular outcomes in their patients.

Data Sources: Published original research and review articles in scholarly journals on the following topics: MI; advice giving; counseling techniques; TTM; CVD; quality NP care.