There were 97 reported cases of measles in the first quarter of the year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports, representing nearly a third of all cases since the beginning of 2020. “Risk for widespread U.S. measles transmission remains low because of high population immunity,” the CDC wrote in a report released last week. “However, because of the increase in cases during the first quarter of 2024, additional activities are needed to increase U.S. routine measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination coverage, especially among close-knit and undervaccinated communities.” The ..read more

Health care providers and patients have traditionally thought that infections patients get while in the hospital are caused by superbugs they’re exposed to while they’re in a medical facility. Genetic data from the bacteria causing these infections – think CSI for E. coli – tells another story: Most health care-associated infections are caused by previously harmless bacteria that patients already had on their bodies before they even entered the hospital. Research comparing bacteria in the microbiome – those colonizing our noses, skin and other areas of the body – with the bacteria that cause p ..read more

Honoring our veterans is an essential part of our society as they have shown dedication and bravery while serving our country. It’s our responsibility to provide them with veteran-centered care, which can enhance their quality of life. Veterans face many challenges after leaving active duty, which affect their personality and health. Simply asking about a veteran’s service can provide validation. PsychArmor’s 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know course can help healthcare providers become more culturally competent. Not all veterans are soldiers. The U.S. military has five branches: Army, Navy ..read more

Diversity in innovation is critical not only for the creation of solutions that meet everyone’s needs, but to bring a wide range of professional and lived experiences to the process. However, a 2016 study by Nager and colleagues of the demographic make-up of innovation in the United States found that women represented just 12% of all innovators. Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American, and other races represented just 8%. Although Black Americans make up 13% of the population, they represented just 0.5% of innovators. One survey isn’t necessarily representative of the diversity of innovation i ..read more

New research indicates that tenure in a role factors substantially in shaping the nursing experience and influencing retention. This finding comes from a Pulse on the Nation’s Nurses survey of 5,800 nurses across tenures conducted in October 2023 by the American Nurses Foundation and McKinsey & Company (nursingworld.org/survey-series-results). The survey identified novice, mid-tenure, and tenured… This content is for Digital Access and Print Plus subscribers only. Visit the site and log in/register to read ..read more

Nurses make the difference Nurses deserve kudos every day, but National Nurses Week, May 6-12, offers unique opportunities to celebrate and acknowledge nurses’ invaluable contributions and invite the public to give recognition and support. “Nurses Make the Difference” is the 2024 theme. The nation’s more than 5 million RNs influence society beyond patient care and… This content is for Digital Access and Print Plus subscribers only. Visit the site and log in/register to read ..read more

Immediate medication discontinuation aids treatment success. Takeaways: Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a life-threatening necrotic rash associated with various medications, including anticonvulsants. Asian Americans and South Asian Indians face increased risk because of human leukocyte antigen allele HLA-B*1502. Treatment for minor rashes includes stopping the triggering agent and administering diphenhydramine. Severe rashes require hospitalization and treatment with prednisone. Jordan Davidson*, a 20-year-old Asian-American woman, arrives in the emergency department (ED) with a painful rash t ..read more

The unacceptably high level of maternal mortality in the United States reflects a failing of our entire healthcare system and calls nurses, as the largest group of providers in the nation, to redouble our efforts to eliminate health disparities and optimize care for pregnant people, new mothers, and their infants. More than 1,200 women died of maternal causes in 2021, translating to a rate of 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births—about three times higher than most other high-income countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 80% of these deaths were p ..read more

In Response to: My old stethoscope Dear Editor, The article, My Old Stethoscope by Nurse Maria O’Toole Corey, struck me in a profound way as I lament on how objects can became integral pieces in our nursing practice and not always in a practical way. I am seated at my desk looking around at the items I have carefully laid around me in an effort to remind me why it is I do what I do as a Nurse Care Manager and Emergency Room Nurse. For example, I have a Weeping Buddha statue that I sometimes rest my hand on so that he may absorb those heavy emotions after a particularly difficult day or phone c ..read more

Travel nurses take short-term contracts that can require long commutes or temporarily living away from home. Time and again, they have to get used to new co-workers, new protocols and new workplaces. So why would staff nurses quit their stable jobs to become travel nurses? Well, for one, they get bigger paychecks. But U.S. nurses have other rationales besides making more money, according to a study I conducted. To do this research, I interviewed 27 registered nurses based in different places. Many of the people I interviewed disclosed that they left permanent positions to combat burnout. Altho ..read more