Addressing the Challenges of Palliative Care for Homeless Veterans.

Background: Veterans who nearing the end of life (EOL) in unstable housing are not adequately served by current palliative care or homeless programs.

Methods: Multidisciplinary focus groups, interviews with community and Veterans Affairs (VA) leaders and with 29 homeless veterans were conducted in five cities. A forum of national palliative and homelessness care leaders (n=5) and representatives from each focus group (n=10), then convened.

Drugs down the drain: When nurses object.

The authors examine the nursing practice of disposing unaltered controlled substances into public water systems as an issue for nurses concerned with the environmental harm it can cause. A summary of the history of controlled substance management reveals inconsistencies in the interpretation of current regulations that have led to disposal policies that vary by institution, according to a benchmarking survey of regional hospitals. Much attention has been given to the phenomenon of conscientious objection in the context of patient care that conflicts with a nurse's moral integrity.

The experiences of inactive nurses returned to nursing after completing a refresher course.

Background: There are varied solutions to the nursing shortage, and one is returning inactive nurses to nursing.

Method: This qualitative study used face-to-face interviews to examine the experiences of nine nurses who returned to nursing after completing a refresher course.

Results: Financial benefits, children getting older, and purpose in life were reasons for taking the refresher course.