Mental Health and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Nephrology Nurses: A Survey-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Nephrology nurses face health and wellness challenges due to significant work-related stressors. This survey, conducted online between July 24 and August 17, 2020, assessed the psychological well-being of nephrology nurses in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 393). Respondents reported feeling burned out from work (62%), symptoms of anxiety (47% with Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7] scores ≥ 5), and major depressive episodes (16% with Patient Health Questionnaire-2 [PHQ-2] scores ≥ 3).

Innovation in COVID-19 Response: ANNA COVID-19 Surge Support Process and Map.

The COVID-19 pandemic began with uncertainty in how to care for patients and protect staff. The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) immediately recognized the need to provide its members and others in the nephrology community with as much information as possible. Resources were collected and disseminated in many forms (e.

Factors Associated With Hospital Readmissions Among U.S. Dialysis Facilities.

Introduction: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid uses the standardized readmission ratio (SRR) to evaluate 30-day readmissions among dialysis providers in the U.S. Readmissions among dialysis recipients remains 37%.

The Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Perceived Stress Among Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of lavender aromatherapy via inhalation as a stress management modality for patients in cardiac rehabilitation. This was a quasi-experimental design. Aromatherapy was provided via inhalation to participants before a cardiac rehabilitation session over 8 minutes using lavender essential oil.

Opportunities to Improve Antibiotic Prescribing in Outpatient Hemodialysis Facilities: A Report From the American Society of Nephrology and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Antibiotic Stewardship White Paper Writing Group.

Antibiotic use is necessary in the outpatient hemodialysis setting because patients receiving hemodialysis are at increased risk for infections and sepsis. However, inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to adverse drug events, including adverse drug reactions and infections with Clostridioides difficile and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Optimizing antibiotic use can decrease adverse events and improve infection cure rates and patient outcomes.

Implications of Proposed Changes to Models of Care for Kidney Disease.

A foreshadowing of changes for other populations and nursing specialties?

Factors Related to International Travel for Transplantation Among U.S.-Listed Kidney Transplant Candidates.

Factors related to travel for transplantation were examined using data from the Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients. Candidates who traveled abroad for a kidney transplant had higher odds of being male, Asian or Hispanic, college-educated, employed, privately insured, and a non-U.S.

A Window into the World of Nephrology Nursing: Nephrology Nurses' Views of the Health and Safety of Their Work Environments, the Impact on Patient Care, and Opportunities for Improvement.

In January 2018, the American Nephrology Nurses Association and Nephrology News and Issues conducted a national study, The Health and Safety of Nephrology Nurses and the Environments in Which They Work. This article presents initial qualitative results from that study - in the words of nephrology nurses. Based on responses of participants, themes and subthemes were identified: staffing, nursing practice (time to provide nursing care, nursing work hours, level of practice, nurses responsibility for the practice of others), work environment conditions (physical environments, psychological environments, civility/ incivility, environmental health, and work spaces), respect, recognition, interprofessional collaboration and support, and career and job satisfaction.

The Health and Safety of Nephrology Nurses and the Environments in Which They Work: Important for Nurses, Patients, and Organizations.

Nurse health and safety and the environments in which nurses work impact nurses, patient safety and quality of care, and organizational outcomes. In January 2018, we conducted a comprehensive national assessment of the overall health and safety of nephrology nurses and their work environments as a follow-up study to the 2014 study on Patient Safety Culture in Nephrology Nurse Settings conducted by American Nephrology Nurses Association. This article presents initial broad findings of this national study.

Fluid and Electrolyte Management Across the Age Continuum.

Optional function of body systems depends upon fluid and electrolyte balance; however, across the lifespan, disorders of fluid and electrolytes offset this, and the causative factors are varied. Nurses play a major role in the management of fluid and electrolyte balance. This article focuses on the role total body water content, plasma proteins, kidney function, and drug metabolism have on the age-related physiology impacting fluid and electrolyte balance, and on nursing implications.

Current State-of-Practice: Transportation for Patients with End Stage Renal Disease.

Patients receiving care for the management of end stage renal disease require transport to nephrology practice settings and treatment centers for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. This type of transportation, defined as non-emergency medical transportation, has long presented a challenge for patients, families, and healthcare providers. This article explores the current and projected statistics and trends for chronic kidney disease,transportation challenges faced by patients and nephrology healthcare providers, and examples of successful transportation services and programs.

Patient Handoffs in Nephrology Nurse Practice Settings: A Safety Study.

Research investigating patient handoff processes has inundated the safety literature, but not in nephrology nurse practice settings. Effective patient handoffs are essential for maintaining patient safety by avoiding errors related to poor information exchange. This mixed methods research study investigated the process of patient handoff across nephrology practice settings and the implications for patient safety and nursing practice.

Patient Handoffs: What They Are and How They Contribute to Patient Safety.

Communication and patient handoffs during transitions in care have been increasingly investigated due to their relationships with patient safety, quality of care, and efficiency. Handoffs occur at two points in the delivery of nursing care: nurse transitions in care and patient transitions in care. This article explores the accepted definitions, best practices, and evidence related to patient handoffs and patient safety.

Decreasing Infections in Nephrology Patient Populations: Back to Basics.

Infection is a leading cause of hospitalizations and deathfor nephrology patients, and a danger to the healthcare professionals who care for them. As primary caregivers, nurses are involved in the prevention, identification, and surveillance of infections and patient teaching associated with infection prevention. Results of a recent national survey revealed that there are many violations in adherence to proper infection control measures in nephrology practice settings, and the safety of this vulnerable patient population is being compromised.

Partnering with patients using social media to develop a hypertension management instrument.

Hypertension is a lifelong condition; thus, long-term adherence to lifestyle modification, self-monitoring, and medication regimens remains a challenge for patients. The aim of this study was to develop a patient-reported hypertension instrument that measured attitudes, lifestyle behaviors, adherence, and barriers to hypertension management using patient-reported outcome data. The study was conducted using the Open Research Exchange software platform created by PatientsLikeMe.

Patient Safety Culture in Nephrology Nurse Practice Settings: Initial Findings.

Patient safety culture has been studied in many practice settings, but there is a dearth of information on the culture of safety in nephrology nurse practice settings. This research study employed the use of an online survey to assess patient safety cultures in nephrology nurse practice settings. The survey was created using items from two Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) survey assessment tools--the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture and the Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture.

Patient Safety and Patient Safety Culture: Foundations of Excellent Health Care Delivery.

In 1999, patient safety moved to the forefront of health care based upon astonishing statistics and a landmark report released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). This repor4 To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System, caught the attention of the media, and there were headlines across the nation about the safety (or lack of safety)for patients in healthcare organizations. In the ensuing years, there have been many efforts to reduce medical errors.

Using Evidence-Based Practice to Move Beyond Doing Things the Way We Have Always Done Them.

Contemporary health care demands better care for individuals with kidney disease. In the quest for the Triple Aim of health care--improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing per capita costs of health care--nephrology nurses can no longer afford to practice the way we have always done. Instead, it is critical to consider the best available evidence, personal expertise, and patient/family preference when engaging in clinical decision-making.