Best Practices for the Management of Indwelling Urinary Catheters
It has been estimated that 1 in 4 patients receive an indwelling urinary catheter during the course of acute-care hospital stays. In most cases, nurses are responsible for the insertion of these catheters as well as the subsequent monitoring, and management of patients with these devices. As most nurses are aware, the most common complication of indwelling urinary catheters is the development of urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs account for 40% of all nosocomial infections and indwelling catheters are implicated in 80% of these UTI cases. When UTIs develop the length of typical hospital stays are extended by 2 days, healthcare expenditures elevate, and overall health outcomes worsen. For these reasons a review of the evidence-based management of indwelling urinary catheters is both timely and important. Included in this article are several evidence-based practices for preventing indwelling urinary catheter related infections.
Screening Older Adults for Symptoms of Depression
Major depression is diagnosed if the first two criteria as well as any three others are present every day for at least a two week period. Minor depression involves less than five of the above criteria, including either number one or two, for at least two weeks. Experts consider depression a widely prevalent and under-diagnosed mental health condition. Beyond the considerable personal suffering caused by depression, depression exacts a heavy economic toll in the form of missed work days, frequent physician visits, etc.
Considering Birth Defects
January has been designated by the March of Dimes as birth defect awareness month: a time for nurses to share greater knowledge with those around us about the preventable causes of birth defects.
Things you may not know about Clara Barton
Clara Barton is widely known as the nurse who carried supplies to soldiers during the Civil War and established the American branch of the Red Cross in 1881. But, there was much more to this famous nurse than we generally learn about in our brief classes on nursing history.
It's Not Just About the Paycheck: An Interview with Ron Winkler, System Director of Recruitment and Retention, Valley Health System, Las Vegas, Nevada
The name Las Vegas conjures immediate images of "the strip", the famous epicenter of excess and bastion of neon. But Ron Winkler, Director of Recruitment and Retention for the five medical centers which constitute Las Vegas Valley Health System, paints a different picture of the popular hotspot. To prospective health care professionals, he highlights the other considerable draws of southern Nevada including: its enviable climate, natural beauty, affordable housing, and the family-friendly nature of its local communities. Winkler believes that nurses who are ready for a change should seriously consider joining the over 5,000 people per month who are moving to a rapidly growing Las Vegas.
