UNIT 1. Nursing Past, Present, and Future

1. Mary Breckinridge, Suzanne Ridgway, Working Nurse, March 14 – April 4, 2005

The Frontier Nursing Service, the precursor of the visiting nurses, founded by Mary Breckinridge, brought health care to the people of Appalachia. Nurses on horseback were dispatched to remote areas to provide needed nursing care of the sick.

2. Hospitals Were for the Really Sick, Clancy Strock, Reminisce, July/August 2005

Strock reminisces about the days when hospital care was reserved for patients with severe injuries or life-threatening illnesses; otherwise the patient was cared for at home. Today, with all the high-tech equipment and procedures, health care is returning to this model and only the sickest find themselves receiving inpatient nursing care. The author questions why, with all the high-tech equipment and knowledge, things really have not changed.

3. Jane Delano, Suzanne Ridgway, Working Nurse, May 16 – June 6, 2005

Jane Delano was instrumental in establishing a permanent nursing force for the American Red Cross approximately 21 years after its founding by Clara Barton.

4. An End to Angels, Suzanne Gordon and Sioban Nelson, American Journal of Nursing, May 2005

This article laments the loss of the traditional image of nursing while espousing the need for a knowledge-based identity. This will carry the profession to a new level and it will attract young people to fill the ranks left vacant by the aging members of the profession.

5. Delores O’Hara, Suzanne Ridgway, Working Nurse, February 1 – February 21, 2005

A modern-day registered nurse and nursing pioneer, Delores O’Hara was the first registered nurse recruited by NASA. In 1959 Dee O’Hara was the only nurse for the seven original “space pilots.” Today it takes more than a dozen nurses to provide the care for 100 astronauts.

6. Shots Heard ‘Round the World, Daniel J. Wilson, The Orange County Register, April 11, 2005

Fifty years have passed since the announcement of a safe polio vaccine, which has virtually eradicated the dreaded polio epidemic. Nurses continue to work with worldwide organizations [WHO] to immunize children and educate parents of the need to protect children from childhood illnesses.

7. Linda Richards, Suzanne Ridgway, Working Nurse, February 21, 2005

The profile of an important contributor to the field of nursing. This article relates that Melinda Richards desired a formal nursing education and became the first American trained as a nurse. She was instrumental in training nurses here and abroad, bringing nursing into the realm of professional caregivers.

8. Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail, Suzanne Ridgway, Working Nurse, December 6, 2004

An ambassador to her people, political activist and health-care giver Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail was the first Native American to become a registered nurse.

9. Lillian Wald, Suzanne Ridgway, Working Nurse, November 15, 2004

Lillian Wald established the Henry Street Settlement on the lower East side of New York City that became the foundation of the Visiting Nurse Society. The New York VNA continues to thrive today, as do agencies throughout the country.

UNIT 2. Legal and Ethical Issues

10. Universities Gird for Battle for Bioscience Supremacy, Jim Hopkins, USA Today, June 24, 2005

Universities vying for research dollars have become key players in the quest to become the leader in stem-cell research. Along with all the benefits of such research dollars, there are potential legal, ethical, and social concerns that must be addressed.

11. Patient Safety and the Limits of Confidentiality, Pamela J. Grace, American Journal of Nursing, November 2004

Patient confidentiality has become a major concern in health care in recent years. This article looks at when keeping that confidence can present problems for nurses providing care and when confidentiality may compromise patient safety.

12. Germ Warfare, Susan Trossman, American Journal of Nursing, January 2005

Health-care professionals have long been aware that the overuse of antibiotic therapy has lead to resistant bacteria. The American Nurses Association and the World Health Organization (WHO) are working to educate nurses, lawmakers, and the public of the legal and ethical concerns as well as the devastating effects on human health related to the misuse of antimicrobials in agriculture.

13. Manual May Help Promote Nursing-Sensitive Measures of Patient Care, Kathryn Foxhall, Similar to an article that appeared in:: Advance for Nurses, May 16, 2005

Joint Commission Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) Division of Research is involved in the pilot testing of the Technical Implementation Guide for nursing performance measures. Measurement is based on 15 nursing-sensitive care measures and is endorsed by National Quality Forum (NQF). The goal is to integrate nursing performance measures into the caring process, which provides an ethical opportunity to return to some of nursing’s basic tenets.

UNIT 3. Drugs, Medications, and Alternative Therapies

14. Herbal Supplements, Nursing, December 2004

Supplements or natural medicines are viewed by the public as being a safe alternative to prescription medication. The nurse must be aware of the potential effects of these products. The nurse with the proper information and education, can be the first line of defense of his/her patient who might be using herbs and over-the-counter medications to treat or prevent health conditions.

15. Arresting Drug-Resistant Organisms, Rebecca Kjonegaard and Frank Edward Myers III, Nursing, June 2005

Hospital-acquired resistant bacteria have now moved out into the community. This article expresses concerns and discusses the threat along with how the nurse can protect his/her patients from exposure to these organisms.

UNIT 4. Disease and Disease Treatments

16. New Movement in Parkinson’s, Andres M. Lozano and Suneil K. Kalia, Scientific American, July 2005

Parkinson’s has become an increasingly common neurological disorder. Although it was first described in the early 1800s, researchers still have not found a cure or a way to slow down the progression of the condition. The most common treatments can only reduce the symptoms. The causes are a mystery. Although much remains unknown, research has brought new hope for treatment; but along with this hope ethical concerns have surfaced.

17. Agony in the Bones, Josh Fischman and Katherine Hobson, U.S. News & World Report, June 27, 2005

Arthritis, once thought to be an annoyance and inevitability of aging, has also become a malady of youth. Joint problems are more costly than cancer and diabetes and affect 43 million Americans. This article provides the reader with key ways to deal with the pain associated with arthritis.

18. Psoriasis in the War Zone, Lisette P. Melton, American Journal of Nursing, March 2005

Nurses working in the war zone are accustomed to treating trauma and war-related injuries, but the author never expected to treat diseases and conditions unrelated to combat. One such condition, psoriasis, an immune-mediated disorder, is discussed. This condition can range from one of annoyance to a serious debilitating condition.

19. Is Your Patient Depressed?, Deborah Antai-Otong, Nursing, December 2004

Depression has become so commonplace in American society that over 2 million adults suffer from the effects of this disease. Untreated, it can become a debilitating condition for the patient. Because of the larger numbers, many patients are never treated by a health-care professional specializing in mental illness. This article discusses the importance of the first-line health professional to recognize the symptoms and to know when it is necessary to refer for treatment.

20. Head Attack, Michael Feld and Johann Caspar Rüegg, Scientific American Mind, June 2005

The authors of this article ask the question “Is your mental stress putting you at greater risk for a heart attack?” They discuss the effects of stress and what happens in the body when stress is present—practically every body system can suffer the effects of mental illness.

21. What’s In a Name:: Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults, Type 1.5, Adult-onset, and Type I Diabetes, Jerry P. Palmer, Diabetes Care, February 2003

What’s in a name? The authors of this article would argue—quite a bit. This article poses the question:: Is autoimmune diabetes in adults due to the same underlying disease process as childhood type 1 diabetes? What’s in a name?

UNIT 5. Nursing Practice Areas/Specialties

22. Victorious Existence, Kristene Diggins, American Journal of Nursing, October 2004

Nursing in the jungle may be an area that few nurses would consider, but proper health care and education can overcome the superstitions and practices of cultures indigenous to other lands—where survival of the fittest is still common.

23. Pediatric Hospice:: BUTTERFLIES, Christine Contillo, Working Nurse, May 16–June 6, 2005

Pediatric hospice nurses have the opportunity to provide home care services, pain control, family support, and education. Although far from an easy area of practice, it can be rewarding. Special training is provided in order to prepare these specialized nurses to provide end-of-life care.

24. Doing More with Less, Cathryn Domrose, Nurseweek, June 6, 2005

Public Health Nurses provide needed care for patients, many of them with debilitating conditions. Budgetary cuts and the nursing shortage have caused many health departments to eliminate nursing positions. The future of the public health nurse lies with the lawmakers—as many PHNs are nearing retirement the crisis will increase.

25. A New Way to Treat the World, Isadore Rosenfeld, Parade, June 12, 2005

The U.S. Navy Ship Mercy, a seaworthy hospital, can accommodate 1000 patients. More than 3000 doctors and nurses were selected to join Naval colleagues for a 30-day tour. The ship has toured the world since the end of the Gulf War in 1991, offering health care to devastated parts of the world while offering nurses the opportunity to bring hope to other nations.

26. Emergency Preparedness, Christine Contillo, Working Nurse, February 21, 2005

This article discusses the changes in the duties and responsibilities of public health nurses. Over the years, the nurse and other public health personnel have done an excellent job to improve the health status in this country. In the post 9/11 world, they have been called upon to use their already developed skills to deal with new problems and prepare for emergencies.

27. The Fear is Still in Me:: Caring for Survivors of Torture, Kathleen McCullough-Zander and Sharyn Larson, American Journal of Nursing, October 2004

The importance of identifying and assessing patients who may have experienced torture is discussed in this article. The nurse must be aware of clinical signs manifesting themselves physically and emotionally. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental illness that nurses in urgent care settings, acute care hospitals, and primary care offices may be called upon to identify and treat.

28. Nursing Career to Consider:: Assisted Living, Christine Contillo, Working Nurse, March 14 – April 4, 2005

Assisted-living facilities present an interesting employment alternative for nurses. This article describes the duties and responsibilities, and presents some thought-provoking information for those considering this venue to make use of their nursing skills.

29. Bon Voyage:: Nursing on a Cruise Ship, Kristin Cassell, Working Nurse, March 14 – April 4, 2005

Kristin Cassell discusses the opportunities to combine a job with adventures on the high seas. Cruise ship nursing may not provide the level of income equal to that of hospital nursing, but hospital nursing does not provide opportunities to travel the world.

30. School Nursing, Linda Handschumacher, Working Nurse, March 8, 2004

For nurses who are looking for a job with as much variety as the number of students in the school he or she may serve, school nursing should be a serious consideration. The author dispels the myth that a school nurse delivers only minor first aid. She discusses the requirements, responsibilities, and duties for this area of practice.

31. Neo Natal Pediatric Transport Nurse, Lynn Coates-Leisen, Working Nurse, May 10, 2004

Another adventurous opportunity for nurses is described by this author. This is a very demanding position requiring quick and critical thinking. These nurses provide care in a helicopter that is transporting small and/or critically ill newborns to a hospital where they can receive lifesaving care.

32. Forensic Nursing, Deborah Lynne, Working Nurse, June 21, 2004

A new field of nursing is described by Deborah Lynne in this article. The area of forensic nursing practice combines nursing skills with an interest in the law.

UNIT 6. Nutrition and Weight Management

33. A Look at Omega-3 Fats, Barbara Quinn, Northwest Indiana Times, June 27, 2005

Barbara Quinn reviews the benefits of omega-3 fats in the diet, such as lower incidence of heart disease and the development of nerves, brains, and eyes in growing children.

34. Shopping the Pyramid, Mary Carmichael, Newsweek, May 9, 2005

This article provides a guide for grocery shopping using the new and improved 2005 nutritional pyramid.

35. I Look a Little More Like a Human Being, Sharon Cohen, The New York Times, June 27, 2005

This article chronicles the amazing weight loss of a man who weighed over 1000 pounds a year ago.

36. Panniculectomy:: More Than a Tummy Tuck, Susan Gallagher, Nursing, December 2004

Massive weight loss can present additional and serious problems for the patient. This article describes surgical intervention for removal of abdominal pannus and also describes the nursing care for the patient.

UNIT 7. Men in Nursing

37. Men in Nursing Today, Erika Icon, Working Nurse, May 6, 2005

Erika Icon answers many questions concerning men in nursing. The number of men in the ranks is increasing with a reported 13 percent of nursing students today being male. The changes in gender roles of the last 30 years are beginning to affect the male’s role in the nursing profession.

38. Contradictions and Tensions:: Exploring Relations of Masculinities in the Numerically Female-Dominated Nursing Profession, Joan Evans and Blye Frank, The Journal of Men’s Studies, March 2003

This article discusses the issues facing men who work in the female dominated profession of nursing. The authors discuss their research and how men can maintain their masculine identity when working in settings where few or no other men are employed.

39. Where Are the Men?, Nursing, July 2003

Six prominent male nurses present their thoughts and ideas as to why so few men are entering the profession. Men continue to be in the minority, and they represent approximately 5 percent of the nursing workforce.

40. The State of the Profession:: “Code White:: Nurse Needed”, The State, March 1, 2005

This article suggests that attracting more men to the field of nursing can make a significant contribution toward solving the nursing shortage. The article goes on to discuss how important an image change of the profession is if more men are to be attracted to the ranks.

UNIT 8. Nursing Education

41. Nursing on the ‘Fast Track’:: Second-Career Students Get Training Boost at Area Colleges, Ann Geracimos, The Washington Times, August 9, 2004

Ann Geracimos presents the new concept in nursing education:: “Fast Track.” She describes how individuals with a college degree in another field are fast-tracking to a nursing career.

42. Nursing Schools’ New Remedies for Low Enrollment, Lisa Rauschart, The Washington Times, April 7, 2003

Nursing and nursing schools have changed and the need for change continues if prospective nurses are to be attracted to the field. They have to broaden their recruitment to reach traditional students and to reach prospective nurses entering the field as a second career.

43. Implementing the Multicultural Education Perspective into the Nursing Education Curriculum, Hazel L. White, Journal of Instructional Psychology, April 2003

Hazel White looks at the changes in the composition of college students and correlates these to nursing education. She discusses the need to adapt the curriculum to the diversity of the students.

UNIT 9. The Profession and Professionalism

44. Nurses Step to the Front, Samantha Levine and Angie C. Marek, U.S. News & World Report, January 31 – February 7, 2005

As the field of health care and nursing changes, nurses are called upon to take on bigger and more involved roles. The article discusses the patient reactions, the new skills necessary for nurses taking on these expanded roles and the effect the nurse shortage will have on these changes.

45. Bridging the Generation Gap(s), Carolyn A. Martin, Nursing, December 2004

The author looks at the four generations of nurses that make up the profession today and discusses how they can work together without conflict.

46. Mitigating the Impact of Hospital Restructuring on Nurses, Greta Cummings, Leslie Hayduk, and Carole Estabrooks, Nursing Research, January/February 2005

The responsibility of emotionally intelligent leadership is discussed in the context of hospital restructuring and the impact that it has on the nurse as well as outcomes of patient care.

47. Predictors of Professional Nursing Practice Behaviors in Hospital Settings, Milisa Manojlovich, Nursing Research, January/February 2005

This article presents Milisa Manojlovich’s research on the behavior of professional nurses in the hospital setting. It discusses how self-efficacy contributes to professional practice behavior.

48. The Winning Job Interview:: Do Your Homework, Belinda E. Puetz, American Journal of Nursing Career Guide, 2005

Belinda Puetz presents four important considerations when interviewing for a nursing position. These guidelines are equally as useful for the new graduate seeking his or her first job, a nurse returning to the workforce, or an individual ready for a change.

49. Meeting the Challenges of Stress in Healthcare, Dan Johnston, Similar to an article that appeared in:: Advance for Nurses, May 16, 2005

When the words stress, burnout, and depression are used in the context of health care, the reader might think that a patient was the subject of the article. In this case, Dan Johnston describes the emotional and psychological issues facing nurses today and provides suggestions for bouncing back from the difficulties.

UNIT 10. Culture and Cultural Care

50. Diverse Nurse Workforce Needed for a Diverse Nation, Jennifer Larson, NurseZone.Com, March 29, 2002

It is important to recognize the cultural differences that patients present, but we cannot forget that the nursing profession has also become diverse. Jennifer Larson discusses the statistical breakdown of the profession and suggests ways recruiters as well as educators can adapt to the changing profession.

51. Cultural Assessment & Care Planning, Mary Curry Narayan, Home Healthcare Nurse, September 2003

Cultural beliefs, values, and practices are important considerations for the nurse when attempting to individualize patient care. Mary Curry Narayan presents tools and strategies for performing a cultural assessment and using them to plan culturally proficient care.

52. Understanding Transcultural Nursing, Nursing Career Directory, 2005

As many areas of this country become culturally diverse, the delivery of nursing care must change to accommodate the new patient mix. This article discusses the behaviors that the nurses must understand and work with in order to provide culturally proficient care.