Nursing News and Research

Latest Nursing News and Research

Cardiac experts study a new procedure to treat leaky heart valves

Cardiac experts at Rush University Medical Center are studying a new, minimally invasive procedure to treat leaky heart valves. Instead of open heart surgery, patients will undergo a less complex catheter-based procedure to treat mitral regurgitation, a serious heart disorder where blood leaks backwards toward the lungs with each heart beat.

1 Oct 2009

Partnership for a Drug-Free America launches new online tools for military families and teens

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America(R), together with the National Military Family Association and the National Association of School Nurses, today announced the launch of new online tools to assist military families and teens through difficult periods of transition, such as a deployment, major injury or illness of a parent, or when moving frequently to new neighborhoods and schools. The free tools are available at the Partnership Web site TimeToTalk.org/Military.

1 Oct 2009

POWER study results support the need to re-evaluate depression treatment in Ontario

Less than half of men and women in Ontario who may be suffering from depression see a doctor to treat their potentially debilitating condition, according to a new women's health study by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). What's more, many hospitalized for severe depression fail to see a doctor for follow-up care within 30 days of being discharged, and many head to hospital emergency departments for care.

1 Oct 2009

State budget cuts continue to erode Medicaid programs, new and old models gain traction

News outlets report on health stories, especially budget cuts, around the country. In Minnesota, however, three quiet, low-cost health providers have received grants to test whether their programs could become new models for others to emulate, while a panel in Louisiana has advised that the state resort to its old one.

1 Oct 2009

Study sheds light on why some hospitals have lower mortality than others

A compelling University of Michigan Health System study debunks assumptions about the role of complications in distinguishing good and bad hospitals.

1 Oct 2009

Amicus brief filed against tobacco companies' lawsuit challenging FDA tobacco regulation law

Today, eleven public health and consumer advocacy organizations filed a friend of the court (amicus) brief asking a federal court to reject a lawsuit by R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard and other tobacco companies that seeks to block key provisions of the new federal law regulating tobacco products. The immediate issue before the court is the industry's challenge of a provision that requires FDA approval before tobacco companies can make claims about "modified risk tobacco products."

1 Oct 2009

METI Nurse Residency Program for reducing health care costs

METI, the Sarasota-based manufacturer of medical simulation products and educational software, today announced that it has begun rolling out its groundbreaking, experiential-based Nurse Residency Program at the first of many health care organizations throughout North America.

1 Oct 2009

Stanford Hospital invests $3 million in technology for safe patient handling

Swaddled in a cushy green hammock, the patient began her ascent off the bed. While one nurse regulated the speed of the lifting device, two of his colleagues guided the patient toward a bedside chair. Within seconds, she was securely lowered onto a cushion, and ready to begin rehabilitation exercises.

1 Oct 2009

UnitedHealth Group grants $2 million for CSUF's project

A $2 million grant from UnitedHealth Group will help fund California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) Department of Nursing’s “Expanding Healthcare Access through Nursing” project.

1 Oct 2009

Press Ganey Associates approved as qualified HH-CAHPS survey vendor

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved Press Ganey Associates, Inc. as a qualified survey vendor for the Home Health Care Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HH-CAHPS).

1 Oct 2009

Hospice in nursing homes can provide high quality end-of-life care and other benefits: Study

Researchers at the Harvard Medical School, Department of Health Policy have published a review article of hospice care in the nursing home and found a number of benefits indicating that greater availability of hospice holds promise in the nursing home setting.

1 Oct 2009

New Pathways to Memory Program to improve cognitive function for patients with dementia

Based on the ground-breaking program released in 2005, Homewatch CareGivers (www.HomewatchCareGivers.com), the largest, most experienced international provider of full-service home care, announced the release of its newly expanded Pathways to Memory™ Program, a set of therapeutic activities delivered in a nurturing, failure-free environment that stimulates and enhances cognitive function for patients with early to mid stage dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other memory loss conditions.

1 Oct 2009

Stop cuts to home care services: AARP

Older individuals needing long term care services find themselves between a rock and hard place: not only are some Illinois nursing homes ranked among the worst in the nation -- the state is threatening to cut home care services for thousands of residents. Today, AARP and other advocate organizations took to the phone lines, sending a strong message to Governor Quinn: stop the cuts and ensure critical home care services are not depleted.

1 Oct 2009

Less than half of men and women in Ontario with depression visit doctor for treatment

1 Oct 2009

Better use of Medicare data could help cut costs

Economists say better use of Medicare data could help make health care less expensive while the federal program faces some cuts under current legislation.

30 Sep 2009

New center for gastrointestinal cancer research established

Georgetown University Medical Center today announced the creation of a center that may help advance a cure for one of the deadliest forms of cancer. The Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers will fund gastrointestinal cancer research, drug discovery and patient advocacy efforts at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

30 Sep 2009

ARRA stimulus funds fuel research projects across America

The Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and The Science Coalition (TSC) today released highlighted examples of the important scientific work happening across the country as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The brief report summarizes just a handful of the thousands of projects benefiting from stimulus dollars.

30 Sep 2009

First edition: September 30, 2009

A look at today's headlines offers evidence that just about everyone is talking about yesterday's Senate Finance Committee blow to the public option and if -- and how -- the concept will survive.

30 Sep 2009

Study reveals that Americans have limited knowledge about long-term care

Overall, Americans did not do well on a survey of their long-term care knowledge. Most know what long-term care is and how much it costs, but their scores fall short regarding how many people will need it and how they will pay for it. The MetLife Long-Term Care IQ Survey, taken by 1,021 individuals aged 40 to 70 in 2009, compared results with a similar 2004 study.

30 Sep 2009

Therapeutic target for acute respiratory distress syndrome identified

Research led by Dr. Jay Kolls, Professor and Chairman of Genetics at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, has identified a therapeutic target for acute lung injury resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome, a highly fatal complication of influenza infection.

30 Sep 2009