The Financial Impact of an Employee Wellness Program Focused on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction.

Background: Evidence for the effectiveness and cost-savings of workplace wellness programs (WWPs) is varied, likely due to the variability in program design, as not all WWPs meet the five-point criteria of a "comprehensive WWP" set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Early Home Visits and Health Outcomes in Low-Income Mothers and Offspring: 18-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Individuals with low income may have heightened rates of obesity and hypertension.

Objective: To determine whether prenatal and infancy home visitation by nurses reduces maternal and offspring obesity and hypertension.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This randomized clinical trial of prenatal and infancy nurse home visitation in a public health care system in Memphis, Tennessee, enrolled 742 women with no previous live births and at least 2 sociodemographic risk factors (unmarried, <12 years of education, unemployed) from June 1, 1990, through August 31, 1991.

Evaluation and deployment of isotype-specific salivary antibody assays for detecting previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adults.

Background: Saliva is easily obtainable non-invasively and potentially suitable for detecting both current and previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, but there is limited evidence on the utility of salivary antibody testing for community surveillance.

Methods: We established 6 ELISAs detecting IgA and IgG antibodies to whole SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, to its receptor binding domain region and to nucleocapsid protein in saliva. We evaluated diagnostic performance, and using paired saliva and serum samples, correlated mucosal and systemic antibody responses.

Development and evaluation of low-volume tests to detect and characterize antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

Low-volume antibody assays can be used to track SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in settings where active testing for virus is limited and remote sampling is optimal. We developed 12 ELISAs detecting total or antibody isotypes to SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid, spike protein or its receptor binding domain (RBD), 3 anti-RBD isotype specific luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assays and a novel Spike-RBD bridging LIPS total-antibody assay. We utilized pre-pandemic (n=984) and confirmed/suspected recent COVID-19 sera taken pre-vaccination rollout in 2020 (n=269).

Prenatal and Infancy Nurse Home Visiting and 18-Year Outcomes of a Randomized Trial.

Objectives: Given earlier effects found in randomized clinical trials of the Nurse-Family Partnership, we examined whether this program would improve 18-year-old first-born youths' cognition, academic achievement, and behavior and whether effects on cognitive-related outcomes would be greater for youth born to mothers with limited psychological resources (LPR) and on arrests and convictions among females.

Methods: We enrolled 742 pregnant, low-income women with no previous live births and randomly assigned them to receive either free transportation for prenatal care plus child development screening and referral (control; = 514) or prenatal and infant home nurse visit (NV) plus transportation and screening ( = 228). Assessments were completed on 629 18-year-old first-born offspring to evaluate these primary outcomes: (1) cognitive-related abilities (nonverbal intelligence, receptive language, and math achievement) and (2) behavioral health (internalizing behavioral problems, substance use and abuse, sexually transmitted infections, HIV risk, arrests, convictions, and gang membership).

Prenatal and Infancy Nurse Home Visiting Effects on Mothers: 18-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Trial.

Background: Prenatal and infancy home-visiting by nurses is promoted as a means of improving maternal life-course, but evidence of long-term effects is limited. We hypothesized that nurse-visitation would lead to long-term reductions in public-benefit costs, maternal substance abuse and depression, and that cost-savings would be greater for mothers with initially higher psychological resources.

Methods: We conducted an 18-year follow-up of 618 out of 742 low-income, primarily African-American mothers with no previous live births enrolled in an randomized clinical trial of prenatal and infancy home visiting by nurses.

Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Risk for Employees Through Participation in a Wellness Program.

The objective was to evaluate the long-term impact that the University of Rochester Employee Wellness program has made in reducing cardiovascular disease risk. The authors conducted a 5-year retrospective study to measure change in health outcomes for more than 16,000 employees who participated in the program for more than 1 year between January 2013 and December 2017. A logistic regression model was applied to estimate the impact of participation on improvement in cardiovascular disease risk.

How to measure a patient's temperature non-invasively.

Temperature is a vital sign that is included in all early warning scoring tools and as part of patient observations. This article outlines the main non-invasive methods that can be used to measure a patient's temperature. REFLECTIVE ACTIVITY: 'How to' articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence-based.

Primary Care Nurse Practitioners and Physicians in Low-Income and Rural Areas, 2010-2016.

This study analyzes trends in the distribution of nurse practitioners and primary care physicians in low-income and rural areas.

Low birthweight in second children after nurse home visiting.

Objective: To examine low birthweight and preterm birth of second children born to home-visited first-time mothers.

Subjects: Women were previously recruited for a randomized controlled trial of the home visiting model disseminated as Nurse-Family Partnership. 512 of these women had second children within 18 years of the first child's birth, and were included in our sample.

Federally qualified health centers reduce the primary care provider gap in health professional shortage counties.

Background: Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) were designed to provide care in medically underserved areas. Substantial and sustained federal funding has accelerated FQHC growth.

Purpose: To examine temporal trends in primary care provider supply and whether FQHCs have been successful in reducing the gap in provider supply in primary care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).

Improving student nurses' confidence in managing the acutely ill patient.

Aim: the Acute Illness Management (AIM) course was introduced into NHS trusts across Greater Manchester in 2002/03 for registered nurses. In preparation for the transition from student to registered nurse, the AIM course was then included in the final year of the undergraduate nursing programme. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the AIM course on student nurses' confidence in managing the acutely ill patient.

Differences in opioid prescribing in low back pain patients with and without depression: a cross-sectional study of a national sample from the United States.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is among the leading indications for the prescription of opioid analgesics in clinical practice. There is increasing evidence suggesting that these agents may have diminished efficacy in the treatment of LBP.

Objectives: We evaluated the relationship between depression, the probability of receiving an opioid prescription, and the amount of morphine equivalent amounts prescribed per year among patients with LBP using nationwide data.

An Exploration of the Determinants of Gestational Weight Gain in African American Women: Genetic Factors and Energy Expenditure.

Background: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) has a long-term impact on women's body weight and contributes to the development of obesity in the mother and her child. Many risk factors for GWG have been identified, but to date, only 6-33.8% of the variance in GWG has been explained.

Effect of Gestational Weight Gain and Prepregnancy Body Mass Index in Adolescent Mothers on Weight and Body Mass Index of Adolescent Offspring.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the association of the gestational weight gain and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) of low-income adolescent mothers with the risk of their children being overweight and/or obese in late adolescence.

Methods: Study subjects were low-income, primiparous adolescents (n = 360) who self-identified as black and participated in the New Mothers Study in Memphis, Tennessee, and their children. Gestational weight gain was examined as a continuous variable and also categorized into overgain, recommended gain, and undergain following the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines.

A Prospective Cohort Study of Influences on Externalizing Behaviors Across Childhood: Results From a Nurse Home Visiting Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: This study investigated genetic and environmental influences on behavior in a cohort of 600 children followed prenatally to 18 years.

Method: A randomized controlled trial of prenatal/infancy nurse home visits (NHV) was conducted in 600 predominantly African American mothers and their firstborn children from Memphis, TN. Mothers were assessed in pregnancy for mental health (MH), self-efficacy, and mastery.

How to measure blood pressure manually.

Rationale and key points This article aims to help nurses to measure blood pressure (BP) manually using an aneroid sphygmomanometer. ▶ BP measurement is an essential clinical skill, and nurses must be competent in performing this procedure and taking accurate readings. ▶ Nurses should be aware of manual BP measurement techniques and understand the patient and environmental factors that may result in inaccurate readings that could compromise patient care.

Process Evaluation of a Comprehensive Supermarket Intervention in a Low-Income Baltimore Community.

Supermarket-based interventions are one approach to improving the local food environment and reducing obesity and chronic disease in low-income populations. We implemented a multicomponent intervention that aimed to reduce environmental barriers to healthy food purchasing in a supermarket in Southwest Baltimore. The intervention, Eat Right-Live Well! used: shelf labels and in-store displays promoting healthy foods, sales and promotions on healthy foods, in-store taste tests, increasing healthy food products, community outreach events to promote the intervention, and employee training.

Factors influencing glove use in student nurses.

Background: Gloves can prevent infection but their use among student nurses is inconsistent.

Aim: To explore pre-registration student nurses' views of non-sterile glove use in clinical practice.

Method: An online survey was conducted and focus groups carried out among third-year student nurses.

Effect of home visiting by nurses on maternal and child mortality: results of a 2-decade follow-up of a randomized clinical trial.

Importance: Mothers and children living in adverse contexts are at risk of premature death.

Objective: To determine the effect of prenatal and infant/toddler nurse home visiting on maternal and child mortality during a 2-decade period (1990-2011).

Design, Setting, And Participants: A randomized clinical trial was designed originally to assess the home visiting program's effect on pregnancy outcomes and maternal and child health through child age 2 years.

A method of teaching critical care skills to undergraduate student midwives using the Maternal-Acute Illness Management (M-AIM) training day.

The most recent Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (CMACE, 2011) identified human errors, specifically those of midwives and obstetricians/doctors as a fundamental component in contributing to maternal death in the U.K. This paper discusses these findings and outlines a project to provide training in Maternal-Acute Illness Management (M-AIM) to final year student midwives.

Barriers to and consequences of mandated reporting of child abuse by nurse practitioners.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to examine the experiences of pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) in the identification and management of child abuse, determine the frequency of their reporting, and describe the effects, attitudes, and confidence in reporting child abuse.

Methods: A survey based on the 2006 CARES survey was disseminated via e-mail through use of Survey Monkey to 5,764 PNP members of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. The data from this survey were then subjected to statistical analysis, and the resultant findings were compared and contrasted with other similar studies.

Supplemental nurses are just as educated, slightly less experienced, and more diverse compared to permanent nurses.

In the past three decades, the shortage of nurses willing to work in hospitals has been a persistent challenge in the United States. Hiring supplemental registered nurses-nurses on short-term contracts obtained through an external staffing agency-has been common to fill gaps in nurse staffing. But there has been insufficient evidence about supplemental nurse workforce trends to inform workforce policy.