Testing and Diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile Infection in Special Scenarios: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: infection (CDI) is a clinical and laboratory diagnosis. Populations at higher risk of developing disease require a high clinical index of suspicion for laboratory testing to avoid incorrect assumptions of colonization. Common risk factors include recent antibiotic use, elderly (>65 years old), and immunocompromised patients.

Reliability of a Musculoskeletal Imaging Competency Examination for Physical Therapists.

Introduction: The Burley Readiness Examination (BRE) for Musculoskeletal (MSK) Imaging Competency assesses physical therapists' baseline MSK imaging competency. Establishing its reliability is essential to its value in determining MSK imaging competency. The purpose of this study was to test the reliability of the BRE for MSK Imaging Competency among physical therapists (PTs) with varying levels of training and education.

Nurse-Driven Fluid Responsiveness Evaluation in Patients With Septic Shock: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Background: Fluid responsiveness should be assessed in patients with septic shock because only 50% of patients are fluid responsive. Dynamic measures of fluid responsiveness, like pulse pressure variation measured after a passive leg raise maneuver, are recommended to guide fluid administration in patients with sepsis after initial fluid resuscitation.

Local Problem: The purpose of the project was to evaluate outcomes after implementing a nurse-driven fluid responsiveness evaluation using passive leg raise and pulse pressure variation measurement in patients with septic shock.

Strategies for interpreting arterial blood gases.

This article provides a step-by-step guide for nurses to interpret arterial blood gas (ABG) results, focusing on five key components: SaO2, PaO2, pH, PaCO2, and HCO3-. It explains how to assess a patient's oxygenation status, compensation levels, and determine if there is an acid-base disturbance and if that disturbance is respiratory or metabolic.

Trauma-Informed Pedagogy to Foster Resilience in Graduate Nursing Education.

The experiences of graduate nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic necessitate a trauma-informed approach to education. Three hundred graduate nursing students responded to a discussion assignment in a doctoral-level health care policy course. Thematic analysis identified common themes of fear, anxiety, frustration, and exhaustion ( n = 93).

HNF-1β is a More Sensitive and Specific Marker Than C-Reactive Protein for Identifying Biliary Differentiation in Primary Hepatic Carcinomas.

Context.—: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) needs to be distinguished from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and metastasis, and in the absence of any specific biliary markers, is often a diagnosis of exclusion. Hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1β is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in bile duct system morphogenesis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: What nurses need to know.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a restrictive lung disease in which the cause cannot be determined. This article discusses restrictive lung diseases that fall under the general category of interstitial lung disease with a focus on IPF-a fatal disease characterized by progressive fibrosis and interstitial pneumonia, dyspnea, and decreasing pulmonary function.

Validating Effective Interventions in Patient/Family Education Using Tablet Computers.

Patient education at the bedside, with Android tablet computers, has proven to be successful at the University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. Plans to expand the program within the USA Health System were made possible with a National Network of Libraries of Medicine Southeastern Atlantic Region Technology Improvement Award in 2018. This article discusses the implementation of tablet computers in a larger hospital setting within the USA Health System and discusses the impact of the educational interventions used in patient education within this health disparate community.

Offering Culturally Congruent Christian Care.

Nurses provide care for people of many cultures. Understanding the patient's culture and incorporating cultural beliefs and practices into care are important to the patient's holistic well-being. Cultural and professional awareness creates culturally congruent care.

NP student encounters with obesity bias in clinical practice.

This study explores NP students' encounters with obesity stigma and bias in their clinical environment as well as recommendations to decrease obesity stigma and bias. Results indicate a need for continued education on the topic of weight management within NP curricula.

Early diagnosis and treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia.

If undiagnosed and untreated, familial hypercholesterolemia can lead to serious cardiac complications, such as premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. NPs should be familiar with the clinical presentation of this inherited metabolic disease to diagnose patients as early as possible and promptly begin treatment that may include lifestyle changes, statin therapy, and/or nonstatin therapy.

Hypertriglyceridemia: A review of the evidence.

Elevated triglycerides are independently associated with increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk. Hypertriglyceridemia is often a polygenic condition that can be affected by numerous interventions. Primary care NPs are well positioned to appropriately evaluate and manage hypertriglyceridemia, improving overall health outcomes.

The Family Meal Challenge: A Faith-Based Intervention to Empower Families.

African Americans have increased rates of overweight and obesity and are least likely to participate in family meals compared with other racial groups. A Family Meal Challenge (FMC) was developed with the objective of empowering individuals to eat healthy meals together as a family. The FMC was presented through four classes in three churches, two faith-based ministries, and two community service programs in health disparity zip codes.

Health Benefits and Adverse Effects of a Gluten-Free Diet in Non-Celiac Disease Patients.

Gluten-related diseases such as celiac disease and gluten ataxia are rare conditions, affecting less than 1% of the population in the United States. Despite the rarity of these diseases, there have been significant increases in the adoption of a gluten-free lifestyle and the consumption of gluten-free foods in the United States over the last 3 decades. More than $15.

Responding to child sexual abuse disclosure.

In cases of child sexual abuse (CSA), NPs are faced with a variety of options dictated by community, agency, and individual resources. This article looks at victim-centered care from current guidelines and offers resources for clinical practice decision making when responding to CSA disclosure.

Understanding employment contracts: What to know before you sign.

NPs are conscientious providers, but when it comes to their own careers, they may not be as careful to apply the same prevention strategies, monitoring, and hypervigilance that they use with their patients to avoid poor outcomes. This article identifies potential risks in employment contracts and offers suggestions for avoiding disputes.

Accelerating Tropicalization and the Transformation of Temperate Seagrass Meadows.

Climate-driven changes are altering production and functioning of biotic assemblages in terrestrial and aquatic environments. In temperate coastal waters, rising sea temperatures, warm water anomalies and poleward shifts in the distribution of tropical herbivores have had a detrimental effect on algal forests. We develop generalized scenarios of this form of tropicalization and its potential effects on the structure and functioning of globally significant and threatened seagrass ecosystems, through poleward shifts in tropical seagrasses and herbivores.

CE: Venous Thromboembolism: Updated Management Guidelines.

: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Each year, more than 10 million cases of VTE are diagnosed; studies suggest there are as many as 900,000 cases per year in the United States. The condition is estimated to cost the U.