Increasing Nursing Knowledge of ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction Recognition on 12-Lead Electrocardiograms to Improve Patient Outcomes.

Background: Early identification of ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) on electrocardiograms (ECGs) is vital to patient outcomes. Therefore, nurses need to have the knowledge to quickly recognize this lethal dysrhythmia.

Method: The purpose of this pretest-posttest study was to increase nursing's knowledge on accurate and timely identification of an STEMI using an online educational intervention delivered via social media.

New Nutrition Guidelines: Promoting Enteral Nutrition via a Nutrition Bundle.

Malnutrition in hospitals is often overlooked, underdiagnosed, and untreated. Malnourished patients have increased risk for infection and pressure injuries, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, anemia, depressed cardiac and respiratory functions, and an overall higher risk for mortality. These complications contribute to longer hospital stays and higher health care costs.

Evaluation of give kids a boost: A school-based program to increase booster seat use among urban children in economically disadvantaged areas.

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a series of 1-year multifaceted school-based programs aimed at increasing booster seat use among urban children 4-7 years of age in economically disadvantaged areas.

Methods: During 4 consecutive school years, 2011-2015, the Give Kids a Boost (GKB) program was implemented in a total of 8 schools with similar demographics in Dallas County. Observational surveys were conducted at project schools before project implementation (P), 1-4 weeks after the completion of project implementation (P), and 4-5 months later (P).

Preventing deaths and injuries from house fires: a cost-benefit analysis of a community-based smoke alarm installation programme.

Background: Operation Installation (OI), a community-based smoke alarm installation programme in Dallas, Texas, targets houses in high-risk urban census tracts. Residents of houses that received OI installation (or programme houses) had 68% fewer medically treated house fire injuries (non-fatal and fatal) compared with residents of non-programme houses over an average of 5.2 years of follow-up during an effectiveness evaluation conducted from 2001 to 2011.

The transition of care from hospital to home for patients with hypertension.

Approximately 50% to 75% of hospital patients have hypertension. At the time of discharge, patients experience a transition of care as they move from the hospital to home. This article describes the transition of care from the hospital to home for patients with hypertension and discusses practice implications for NPs.

Preventing deaths and injuries from house fires: an outcome evaluation of a community-based smoke alarm installation programme.

Background: Few studies have examined the impact of community-based smoke alarm (SA) distribution programmes on the occurrence of house fire-related deaths and injuries (HF-D/I).

Objective: To determine whether the rate of HF-D/I differed for programme houses that had a SA installed through a community-based programme called Operation Installation, versus non-programme houses in the same census tracts that had not received such a SA.

Methods: Teams of volunteers and firefighters canvassed houses in 36 high-risk target census tracts in Dallas, TX, between April 2001 and April 2011, and installed lithium-powered SAs in houses where residents were present and gave permission.

How long do smoke alarms function? A cross-sectional follow-up survey of a smoke alarm installation programme.

Objective: To assess the functionality of lithium-powered smoke alarms that had been installed through a community-based programme called Operation Installation (OI).

Methods: A random sample was chosen of homes that had received smoke alarms through OI, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 years previously. Sampled homes were visited, and information collected included functional status of smoke alarms.

Clinical nurse specialists: then, now, and the future of the profession.

Purpose: The role of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) has evolved significantly over time and will continue to do so. Future students, faculty, and practicing CNSs should be aware of their roots, current status, and what the future may entail.

Rationale: An accurate understanding and reflection of the past, present, and future of this specific advanced practice nursing specialty could ensure its continued success as a predominate force in health restoration and the promotion of the health and well-being of people.

Potential to improve outcomes: causes of 30-day readmission after cardioverter defibrillator implantation.

Under newly restructured Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines, hospitals are at risk for reduction in reimbursement for patients with heart failure (HF) who are readmitted within 30 days after discharge. Patients with HF who are admitted for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are routinely admitted with a primary diagnosis of HF. To reduce the occurrence of readmission, this article identifies the causes of 30-day readmission and recommends that patient follow-up after ICD placement should include assessment and management of HF symptoms.

A controlled evaluation of the WHO Safe Communities model approach to injury prevention: increasing child restraint use in motor vehicles.

Objective: To measure the effect of the WHO Safe Communities model approach to increasing child restraint use in motor vehicles.

Design: Pre- and post-intervention observations of restraint use in motor vehicles in several sites in the target area, and in a comparison area community.

Setting: Community; southeast Dallas, Texas, 2003-2005.

Increasing the use of child restraints in motor vehicles in a Hispanic neighborhood.

The use of restraints in motor vehicles is less common in minority and low-income populations than in the general population. A preliminary survey of Hispanic preschool-aged children in west Dallas, Tex, conducted in 1997 showed much lower child restraint use (19% of those surveyed) than among preschool children of all races in the rest of the city (62%). Because there are few reports of successful programs to increase child restraint use among Hispanics, we undertook to implement and evaluate such a program.