Nursing students' clinical judgment regarding rapid response: the influence of a clinical simulation education intervention.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of a novel educational intervention on student nurses' clinical judgment regarding the management of patients experiencing rapid clinical deterioration.

Method: A randomized sample of baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in the final semester of their program at a midwestern public university participated. All students (N = 79) were pretested; the control group (n = 39) was posttested after receiving traditional code blue and rapid response education.

Administration of PRN medications and use of nonpharmacologic interventions in acute geropsychiatric settings: implications for practice.

Despite the known risks and the widespread administration of PRN (pro re nata or "as needed") psychotropic medications in inpatient settings, little is known about their use with hospitalized older adults. This exploratory descriptive study examined the use of PRN psychotropic medications and nonpharmacologic interventions to manage symptoms in older adults hospitalized in two acute care geropsychiatric settings. A retrospective chart audit was conducted.

Psychotropic medication-induced rabbit syndrome.

Rabbit syndrome (RS) is an involuntary movement disorder characterized by rapid, fine movements of an individual's mouth, similar to the chewing movements of a rabbit, and has most frequently been associated with the use of antipsychotic medications. RS is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed as tardive dyskinesia or pseudoparkinsonism. Although rare, RS is easily treatable if recognized.

Clinical nurse specialists as leaders in rapid response.

The purposes of this article were to provide background information about rapid response teams (RRTs), to describe the actual and potential outcomes of RRTs, to define the potential role of the clinical nurse specialist in leading RRTs, and to provide recommendations for implementation of RRTs. Rapid response teams provide the opportunity for early intervention for patients demonstrating clinical decline before they reach a point of no return. The long-standing practice of waiting for intensive intervention (code blue) until the patient experiences cardiopulmonary arrest has shown poor outcomes, bringing this practice into question.

Psychiatric nurses' decision to restrain.

The use of restraints in all health care settings has come under increased scrutiny in recent years. Although the organizational context has been suggested as a possible influence on restraint use, few researchers have examined whether organizational factors affect use of restraints and nurses' decisions to restrain patients hospitalized in psychiatric facilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of nurses' work empowerment (an indicator of organizational culture) with nurses' decision to restrain.

Psychotropic medication use among older adults: what all nurses need to know.

Psychotropic medications are commonly administered to elderly clients to manage behavior and psychiatric symptoms. These drugs are known to have potentially serious side effects, to which older adults are more vulnerable. Nurses care for older adults in many different practice settings but have varying degrees of knowledge about these kinds of medications.

Psychotic events in Alzheimer's disease: application of the PLST model.

This article focuses on a review of the literature related to the known prevalence of psychotic events in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and associated aggressive, violent behavior toward family caregivers. It also describes the impact of behavioral disturbances on family caregivers and how use of the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold model and nonpharmacological interventions cited in the literature can help manage these behaviors. Geriatric nurses armed with this information will be better prepared to provide caregivers with much-needed education to better understand psychotic events, as well as strategies to cope with associated behaviors.