Evaluation of a Nurse-Initiated Routine HIV Testing Pilot on a Medical-Surgical Unit.

National guidelines recommending a shift from risk-based to routine HIV testing for persons ages 13-64 are described. The role of nurses, particularly medical-surgical nurses, in increasing the number of people screened is discussed.

Assessment of the public's knowledge of venous thromboembolism.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major public health problem impacting 600,000 people and causing 100,000 deaths annually. Nurses are in a unique position in all health care settings to educate patients and the public to prevent and provide early detection for this devastating complication. A dearth of information exists regarding the knowledge level of those affected.

Roles and strategies of diabetes support group facilitators: an exploratory study.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the roles and strategies implemented by diabetes support group facilitators.

Methods: A descriptive exploratory design that included 2 in-depth interviews and 1 group interview of 6 diabetes support group facilitators was implemented over a 2-month period.

Results: The participants described the role of facilitator as involving 4 major aspects: (1) a philosophy of shared authority and group ownership; (2) a conception of diabetes as a highly complex disease interconnected with all aspects of one's life; (3) a focus on quality of life; and (4) recognition of perfectionism as neither possible nor desirable in self-management.

Implementation of routine HIV testing in an acute care hospital in Rhode Island: a nurse-initiated opt-out pilot project.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded HIV screening of adults ages 13-64 years in 2006 from risk based to routine. Early detection and treatment improve patient outcomes and prevent disease transmission. This article describes a pilot program in which nurses in an adult inpatient unit at an acute care hospital offer HIV testing to all patients ages 18-64 upon admission through standing orders.

Political astuteness of baccalaureate nursing students following an active learning experience in health policy.

Objectives: To describe changes in political astuteness after baccalaureate nursing student participation in a series of public policy learning activities.

Design And Sample: This one-group pretest/posttest design included 300 undergraduate nursing students enrolled in the public/community health nursing course. Data collection occurred each semester beginning spring 2008 and ending summer 2011.

Recognition and management of hypertension by nurses: action in patients with diabetes is critical.

The Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP), Canadian Hypertension Society, Blood Pressure Canada, Canadian Diabetes Association, College of Family Physicians of Canada, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses issued a recent call for all health care professionals in Canada to double their efforts to assist patients with diabetes in maintaining target blood pressures (Campbell et al., 2009b). Blood pressure (B/P) in diabetic individuals should be less than 130 mmHg systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic (CHEP 2009).

2007 Hypertension Education Program (CHEP) recommendations: management of hypertension by nurses.

Recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that nearly one billion people in the world are suffering from hypertension. Forecasts suggest that, with the aging of the population, this number could reach 1.5 billion by 2025 (Kearney, Whelton, & Reynolds, 2005).

What is the experience of men and women with congestive heart failure?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is increasing in incidence and prevalence in both men and women in Canada. Research findings to date have been inconsistent with respect to whether gender differences influence quality of life, treatment and survival. There is a paucity of qualitative research describing the experience of patients with CHF This qualitative case study approach used semistructured interviews with women and men with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class three or four CHF who were referred to a CHF clinic.

An active learning experience in health policy for baccalaureate nursing students.

Nurses have the potential to promote the public's health through active involvement in shaping health and social policy. Preparing nursing students to influence public policy is a major component of the curriculum in public/community health nursing. A series of learning experiences was designed to engage students in this process.