A Nonsystematic Review of the Features of Pharmacotherapy in the Elderly at the Stage of Taking Medications.

The human body is subservient to the age-related changes that affect not only the outer appearance but also organs and tissues. They also concern the processes of pharmacokinetics and dynamics. This means that the absorption, distribution, and metabolism of drugs used by an elderly patient will be slowed down.

Quality evaluation of the usefulness of an emergency department fall risk assessment tool.

Introduction: Falls that occur within a hospital setting are difficult to predict, however, are preventable adverse events with the potential to negatively impact patient care. Falls have the potential to cause serious or fatal injuries and may increase patient morbidity. Many hospitals utilize fall "predictor tools" to categorize a patient's fall risk, however, these tools are primarily studied within in-patient units.

Surgical Decision-Making for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Patient Experiences of the Informed Consent Process.

Surgical resection is frequently the recommended treatment for drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), yet many factors play a role in patients' perceptions of brain surgery that ultimately impact decision-making. The purpose of the current study was to explore how people with epilepsy, in their own words, experienced the overall process of consenting to surgery for drug-resistant TLE. Data was drawn from in-person, semi-structured interviews of 19 adults with drug-resistant TLE eligible to undergo epilepsy surgery.

Does Gender Matter in Septic Patient Outcomes?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine potential gender disparities in relation to factors associated with sepsis management among a cohort of patients admitted through an emergency department with a discharge diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock. Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death globally, with significant associated costs. Predictors of survival for those with sepsis-related diagnoses are complex.

A concept analysis of health literacy.

Aim: To propose a conceptual definition of health literacy incorporating system demands, burdens, and complexities that are a critical part of patients' level of health literacy.

Background: Health literacy is used frequently in health care and often is confused with patients' reading and comprehension levels.

Design: Walker and Avant's concept analysis method was used.

An Exploratory, Descriptive Study of Nurse Leaders' Personal and Work Experiences During Union Negotiations and Strike Events.

Objective: This study explored the experiences, perceptions and emotional state of nurse leaders during union activities to understand the impact on their personal and professional lives.

Background: Other than anecdotal stories shared during union negotiations and strike preparations, very little evidence exists in nursing and healthcare literature about nursing unions and their impact on nurse leaders and their organizational priorities.

Methods: This study used an exploratory, descriptive design with a convenience and snowball sample of Association of California Nurse Leaders members.

Effectiveness of a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Residency Program on Retention.

Background: Nurse residency programs (NRPs) provide new graduate nurses (NGNs) with social support and experiential activities as a formal transition to clinical practice.

Aims: The study was conducted to answer the question: What is the effectiveness of an NRP in retaining NGNs in a psychiatric-mental health setting?

Method: This study used a quantitative time-sequenced comparative study of multiple cohorts of NGNs hired into an NRP at a freestanding hospital in California.

Results: The study yielded a turnover rate of 11.

The Lived Experience of Anemia Without a Cause.

This article explores anemia without an obvious cause from two perspectives: a patient and the evidence. Although evidence is required to drive favorable patient outcomes, the focus on evidence often hides the patient experience during diagnosis and treatment. Knowledge of experience with evidence can provide a deeper perspective for clinical decision making and meet nursing's ethical mandate to relieve suffering.

Hidden Anemias in the Critically Ill.

With increasing knowledge of the risks associated with receiving blood transfusions, a new paradigm of bloodless medicine is needed. Principles of bloodless medicine include careful monitoring for obvious and hidden anemias, rapid intervention, minimizing blood losses from laboratory testing and procedures, and careful management of bleeding diatheses. As evidence is revealed and refined, standard treatment of anemia in the intensive care unit will include erythropoietin-stimulating agents, iron, folate, and vitamin B12, which will reduce risks associated with blood transfusions.