A Strategy for Changing Adherence to National Guidelines for Decreasing Laboratory Testing for Early Breast Cancer Patients.

Introduction: Past studies indicate delays in adoption of consensus-based guideline updates. In June 2016, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network changed its guidelines from routine testing to omission of ordering complete blood cell count (CBC) and liver function tests (LFT) in patients with early breast cancer. In response, we developed an implementation strategy to discontinue our historical practice of routine ordering of these tests in asymptomatic patients.

Effect of massage therapy for postsurgical mastectomy recipients.

This quality improvement pilot study evaluated the effect of massage therapy on pain, anxiety, and overall well-being in women who received mastectomies at a busy hospital practice. Participants reported a significant reduction in pain, stress, and muscle tension, as well as an increase in relaxation. Oncology nurses should consider the feasibility of massage therapy as a valuable nonpharmcologic pain management strategy.

The current role of medical simulation in american urological residency training programs: an assessment by program directors.

Purpose: Although medical simulation opportunities are increasingly available, resident training to date has involved primarily hands-on, subjective assessments. The role of simulation and computer based training for urology residents remains unknown. We evaluated the current status of medical simulation among urological training programs in the United States.