Nursing Faculty Workforce Development Project.

A proposed nursing faculty workforce development project by a college of nursing within a research-intensive institution will increase the number of nurse faculty from the current population of BSN-prepared nurses from underserved communities in a state to earn a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree with a nursing education specialty. This project will be accomplished through partnerships between a college of nursing and academic institutions with large nursing student populations from underserved communities. In addition, the project will incorporate the employment of MSN students at academic partner institutions within a clinical nurse faculty role.

Sleep-Wake Disturbances in Oncology.

Sleep-wake disturbances are common in patients with cancer. Despite the high prevalence of altered sleep patterns in oncology settings, there remains a gap in consistent assessment of sleep, leading to an underrecognized and undertreated condition. Provider failure in addressing sleep-wake disturbances can result in chronic issues with insomnia and has a negative impact on quality of life and cancer survivorship.

Abnormal Vital Sign Recognition and Provider Notification in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Introduction: Vital signs measurements aid in the early identification of patients at risk of clinical deterioration and determining the severity of illness. Health care providers rely on registered nurses to document vital signs and communicate abnormalities. The purpose of this project was to improve the provider notification process regarding abnormal vital signs in a pediatric emergency department.

Helping Bridge the Great Divides: Supporting Nurse Communication at End of Life.

Many, especially newer, nurses lack the experience for nuanced skillful communication at end of life. This study incorporated the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Core Curriculum Communication module into a nurse residency program and tested for change in attitudes toward end-of-life (EOL) care. Researchers found significant differences in attitudes toward care of the dying before and after the ELNEC training, and between nurses with greater than and less than 5 years experience.

Hip Fracture in the Frail Elderly: Making the Case for Early Integration of Palliative Care and Timely Hospice Referral.

With the projected increase of an aging population in the upcoming decades, coupled with increasing elderly longevity, the incidence of hip fractures among this vulnerable population is expected to grow. Current evidence reveals high mortality rates within 6 months to 1 year among frail elderly patients who suffer hip fracture. In addition, the presence of multiple chronic conditions negatively impacts mortality rates in this vulnerable population.