Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a leading health concern in the United States, with an estimated prevalence of 8.5 million. The incidence of PVD is growing due to increasing rates of obesity and diabetes, as well as an aging population.

Utilizing the health belief model to assess vaccine acceptance of patients on hemodialysis.

Vaccine rates in patients on hemodialysis are substantially lower than the Healthy People 2020 targets. The purpose of this study is to utilize the perceptions and cues for action constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM) to assess the attitudes of patients receiving outpatient hemodialysis regarding acceptance of the seasonal influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B virus vaccines. Vaccine acceptance is defined as receiving the vaccine.

Graduate nurse internship program: a formalized orientation program.

The graduate nurse internship program was developed on the basis of Watson's Human Caring Theory. In this article, the author discusses how an orientation program was formalized into an internship program and how the theory was applied.

A nurse-led initiative to improve obstetricians' screening for postpartum depression.

Although up to 20 percent of women experience postpartum depression, screening is not standard practice. In a metropolitan area where only 1 of 30 obstetricians and two primary care clinics reported routine screening for postpartum depression, a nurse-led initiative to implement routine screening using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was carried out. Twenty-two obstetricians (76 percent) agreed to consistently implement screening for 3 months.

An expanded look at evaluating clinical performance: faculty use of anecdotal notes in the U.S. and Canada.

The evaluation of students in a clinical setting is often subjective and completed differently among faculty. To describe and compare evaluation practices, faculty were asked to rank order student clinical activities important enough to write an anecdotal note regarding. A total of 15 behaviors were presented and faculty were asked to prioritize their importance.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

Obstructive lung disorders are responsible for functional limitations and the deaths of millions of Americans. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is in the top 5 leading causes of death and the incidence is climbing. Home healthcare and hospice nurses should be aware of current management strategies, including nonpharmacologic therapies.

Alcoholism & depression.

One out of 2 Americans report drinking on a routine basis, making the excessive consumption of alcohol the third leading cause of preventable death in America (). Alcoholism and depression are common comorbidities that home healthcare professionals frequently encounter. To achieve the best patient outcomes, alcoholism should be addressed initially.

Chronic pancreatitis: an update for home care and hospice clinicians.

Chronic pancreatitis is a relentlessly painful condition associated most commonly with alcoholism. Patients suffer wasting and depression as a result of chronic pain. It is important for home care clinicians to recognize the signs of pancreatitis and understand the current evidence-based treatment strategies to control the symptoms.

Use of anecdotal notes by clinical nursing faculty: a descriptive study.

Although the use of anecdotal notes by faculty to document clinical performance is thought to be a common practice, no empirical study of this evaluation tool has been conducted. To investigate the frequency and pattern of use, a faculty questionnaire was developed using the Context, Input, Process, Product (CIPP) evaluation model as a framework. The model was adapted to focus on clinical nursing education.

Type 2 diabetes: the many facets of care.

A review of Type 2 diabetes mellitus is presented. Lifestyle recommendations with a focus on currently available medications are discussed. A case study involving a patient with diabetes mellitus and a foot ulcer is discussed in relation to current treatment recommendations.

Uninvited "guests" in patient homes.

This article reviews commonly prescribed medications used to treat insect bites or stings in a case study format. The review describes the implications of treatment for a patient with chronic kidney disease and acute hepatic obstruction who experienced an insect bite.