Congratulations to Research Grant Recipients
Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Grant
This
program provides awards of $1,000 to
stimulate the use of patient-focused data or
previously generated research findings to
develop, implement and evaluate changes in
acute and critical care nursing practice.
The
recipients of this grant for 2002 are:
Elisabeth Bradley, RN, APN, CCRN
Wilmington, Del.
Incorporation of Guided Imagery and
Relaxation into the Care of Patients
Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization: A
Research Utilization Project
Vera
Usinowicz, RN, MS, CCRN
West
Milford, N.J.
Patients' Perceptions and Responses to Pain
Related to Turning: Lessons Learned from
AACN's Thunder Project II
The
recipients of this grant for 2003 are:
Margo
Halm, RN, MA, CCRN, CS
St.
Paul, Minn.
Relationship Between Staffing Levels and
Patient and Nurse Outcomes
Betty
Thornell, RN, MS, CCRN
Austin,
Texas
Understanding Barriers to Collaboration
During Multidisciplinary Rounds
Grant
proposals are accepted twice a year and must
be received by either March 1 or Oct. 1.
End
of Life/Palliative Care Small Projects Grant
This
grant awards $500 to carry out a project
focusing on end-of-life or palliative care
outcomes in critical care.
The
recipient of this grant for 2002 is:
Mary
Ann Millman, RN, MSN, RCVT
Falls
Church, Va.
Meeting
Comfort Care Needs of Terminally Ill
Patients During the Withdrawal of
Ventilatory Support
The
recipients of this grant for 2003 are:
Brutrinia Arellano, RN
Converse, Texas
Determining the Impact of End-of-Life
Education Training on the Practices or
Behaviors That Nurses Perceive
Cynthia
Scott, RN
Houston, Texas
Attitudes and Practices of Pediatric
Critical Care Physicians, Nurse
Practitioners and Nurses Regarding
End-of-Life Care in the PICU
Frances
Simpson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Phlugerville, Texas
Family
Satisfaction With Critical Care Experience
Following Death of a Loved One
Applications for this grant are accepted
twice a year and must be received by Jan. 15
or July 1.
AACN
Critical Care Grant
This
grant awards up to $15,000 to support
research focused on one or more of AACN's
research priorities.
The
recipients of the AACN Critical Care Grant
for 2003 are:
Lauren
Sorce, RN, MSN, CCRN, CPNP
Park
Ridge, Ill.
Does
the Use of a Moisture Chamber Decrease the
Incidence of Corneal Abrasions in Critically
Ill Pediatric Patients?
Chris
Winkleman, RN, PhD, CCRN
University Heights, Ohio
Selected Cytokines and Mobilization of ICU
Patients: Is There a Relationship?
The
annual application deadline for this grant
is Feb. 1.
AACN
Mentorship Grant
This
$10,000 grant provides research support for
a novice researcher with limited or no
research experience to work under the
direction of a mentor with expertise in the
area of proposed investigation.
The
recipient of this grant for 2003 is:
Louise
Grondin, RN, MS, CS
Saline,
Mich.
Identifying Predictors of Inpatient Cardiac
Arrest
The
annual application deadline for this grant
is Feb. 1.
AACN
Clinical Inquiry Grant
This
grant provides awards of up to $500 for
clinical research projects that directly
benefit patients or families.
Interdisciplinary projects are especially
invited.
The
recipients of this grant for 2001 are:
Donna
Blakley, RNC, BSN
Cincinnati, Ohio
Post-Myocardial Infarction Patient Education
Program Education
Melissa
Hutchinson, RN, CCRN
Bothell, Wash.
Does
the Addition of Glutamine and/or
Poly-Unsaturated Fatty Acids to Enteral
Feeding Reduce the LOS Infection and
Ventilator Days in Critically Ill Patients
with or Without ARDS
Jennifer Wagner, RN, BSN
Louisville, Ohio
The
Lived Experience of Critically Ill Patients'
Family Members During Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation
The
recipient of this grant for 2002 is:
Kristen
Sethares, RN
Marion,
Mass
Supporting Self-Care Behaviors of Women With
Heart Failure Through a Tailored Nursing
Intervention
The
recipients of this grant for 2003 are:
Colleen
Gonzalez, RN, MSN
Peabody, Mass.
Visiting Preferences of Patients and
Families
Debra
Siela, RN, DNSc, CCNS, CCRN, CS, RRT
Bluffton, Ind.
The
Effect of Positioning on Respiratory
Parameters and Subjective Perceptions of
Patients With Large Abdomens Who Are
Receiving Mechanical Ventilation
Renee
Twibell, RN, DSN
Munice,
Ind.
An
Exploration of Synergy in Novice Nurses
Caring for Critically Ill Patients
The
annual application deadlines for this grant
are Jan. 15 and July 1.
AACN
Certification Corporation Research Grant
This
program, which is supported by AACN
Certification Corporation, awards up to four
grants of up to $10,000 each to fund
research related to certified practice.
Examples of eligible projects include
studies that focus on continued clinical
competency, the Synergy Model, the value of
certification as it relates to patient care
or nursing practice, certification concepts
and educational preparation of certificants.
The
recipient of this grant for 2003 is:
Paula
A. Lusardi, RN, PhD, CCNS, CCRN
Longmeadow, Mass.
Certified Versus Non-Certified Practice as
Revealed in Exemplars: a Qualitative Study
This
grant is not funded for 2004.
AACN
Clinical Practice Grant
This
$6,000 grant supports research that is
focused on one or more of AACN's clinical
research priorities.
Receiving this grant for 2002 is:
RuthAnne Kuiper, RN, MN, CCRN
Mocksville, N.C.
Using
the Outcome-Present-State Test Clinical
Reasoning Model and the Self-Regulated
Learning Model to Promote Reflective
Practice With Nursing Students in Acute Care
Clinical Settings
Oct. 1
is the annual application deadline for this
grant.
AACN-Sigma
Theta Tau Critical Care Grant
This
$10,000 grant is cosponsored by AACN and
Sigma Theta Tau International. The grant may
be used to fund research for an academic
degree.
Receiving the grant for 2003 is:
Richard
B. Arbour, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNRN
Philadelphia, Pa.
Determining the Effectiveness of the
Bispectral Index in Monitoring Sedation and
Improving Outcomes in Critically Ill
Patients
Oct. 1
is the annual application deadline for this
grant.
Medtronic Physio-Control AACN Small Projects
Grants
This
program awards up to $1,500 to carry out
projects that focus on aspects of acute
myocardial infarction resuscitation, such as
the use of defibrillation, synchronized
cardioversion, noninvasive pacing or
interpretative 12-lead electrocardiogram.
The
recipient of this grant for 2002 is:
Diane
L. Carroll, RN, PhD
Beverly, Mass.
Quality
of Life in Patients at Three and Four Years
After Insertion of an Implantable
Cardioverter Defibrillator
The
annual application deadline for this grant
is July 1.
Moser Receives First $100,000 AACN-Philips
Outcomes Grant
Debra
K. Moser, RN, DNSc, FAAN, is the recipient
of the first $100,000 AACN-Philips Medical
Systems Outcomes for Clinical Excellence
Research Grant. The award was announced at
AACN's National Teaching Institute and
Critical Care Exposition in May in San
Antonio, Texas.
Her
study is titled "Physiologic Behavioral
Mechanisms Linking Depression with Increased
Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with
Heart Failure."
Cosponsored by Philips Medical Systems, this
grant will be given every three years to
support an experienced nurse researcher in
conducting a clearly articulated
nursing-focused research program.
This
grant replaced the Critical Care Nursing
Research Grant that Philips had funded since
1991. It will support studies that center on
improved outcomes or system efficiencies in
the care of acutely or critically ill
individuals of any age in any clinical
environment and relate directly to at least
one of AACN's research priorities.
Philips' collaboration with AACN on research
dates back two decades. Its original
partnership was through Hewlett Packard and
then Agilent Technologies.
In
announcing the grant support last year, Joan
Hodges, learning products manager at
Philips, said, "Our company has a long
history as a champion of critical care
nursing research through AACN. Throughout
the years, our commitment to research has
always been founded on a vision that is
entirely complementary with AACN in its
support of nurses' optimal contributions to
the care of critically ill patients and
families."
Moser
is professor and Gill chair of nursing at
the University of Kentucky College of
Nursing, Lexington. She is co-editor of the
Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.
Kathleen Puntillo (center) receives the
Distinguished Research Lecturer crystal
award in recognition of her selection as
the 2003 Distinguished Research Lecturer,
part of AACN's Circle of Excellence awards
program. On hand for the presentation were
AACN Research Work Group Chair Elaine
Steinke (left) and Philips Medical Systems
Learning Products Manager Joan Hodges.
Philips sponsored the Distinguished Research
ecture, which was presented at NTI 2003
in San Antonio, Texas.
Guzzetta to Deliver 2004 Distinguished
Research Lecture at NTI in Orlando
Cathie
E. Guzzetta, RN, PhD, HNC, FAAN, has been
selected to present the AACN Distinguished
Research Lecture at AACN's National Teaching
Institute and Critical Care Exposition in
May 2004 in Orlando, Fla.
Since
coauthoring the textbook Critical Care
Nursing: Body-Mind-Spirit in 1981, Guzzetta
has authored or coauthored numerous books.
She describes her mission as translating
holistic, caring and healing concepts into
concrete implications for nursing practice.
A
critical care researcher for more than 20
years, Guzzetta is currently a nursing
research consultant with Children's Medical
Center of Dallas and director of Holistic
Nursing Consultants, Dallas. Her federally
funded study, titled "Effects of Relaxation
and Music Therapy on Coronary Care
Patients," paved the way for nurse
researchers to seek National Institutes of
Health money to investigate holistic
interventions and integrate them at the
bedside.
The
Distinguished Research Lecturer Award honors
a nationally known researcher who has made
significant contributions to acute and
critical care research. In addition, the
recipient is known for publications,
presentations and mentorship relevant to
acute and critical care and is viewed as a
consultant in his or her area of expertise.
Nominations for 2005 Lecture
Dec. 1
is the deadline to apply for the 2005 AACN
Distinguished Research Lecturer Award. The
recipient will present the Distinguished
Research Lecture at the 2005 NTI in New
Orleans, La.
The
awardee receives a $1,000 honorarium and
$1,000 toward NTI expenses and a crystal
award. The lecture is sponsored by a grant
by Philips Medical Systems.
For
more information, contact Research Associate
Dolores Curry at (800) 394-5995, ext. 377;
e-mail, dolores.curry@aacn.org.
Practice Resource Network
Q:
What are the standards for monitoring
residuals in patients requiring enteral
nutrition?
A:
The AACN Procedure Manual, 4th Ed.,
addresses issues regarding patient
monitoring and care during enteral
nutrition. The recommendation is to aspirate
residuals before every feeding or at least
every eight hours. Residuals greater than
150 mL indicate decreased gastric mobility
or emptying. Continued feeds with high
residuals increase the risk of vomiting and
aspiration. Residuals may be increased
because of intolerance to enteral formulas,
indicating a need for reevaluation of the
formula. The manual also lists as a
reportable condition residual greater than
125 mL for more than two hours.
The
Protocol for Practice titled "Nutrition
Support for the Mechanically Ventilated
Patient" states that the residual volume
must be greater than the flow rate of
formula to be considered significant.
If you
have a practice-related question, call
AACN's Practice Resource Network at (800)
394-5995, ext. 217, or e-mail your question
to
practice@aacn.org.
Public Policy Update
Act
Addresses Safe Care
Sen.
Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) has introduced a
bill that would amend Medicare provisions of
the Social Security Act to, among other
things, address nurse staffing issues.
The
Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2003
(S. 991) would:
�
Require participating hospitals to adopt and
implement a staffing system that provides
for an adequate number of RNs on each shift
and in each unit to ensure appropriate
staffing levels for patient care.
�
Provide for the reporting and release to the
public of certain staffing information,
including a daily posting of the current
number of licensed and unlicensed nursing
staff directly responsible for patient care
for each shift and in each unit.
In
addition to establishing record-keeping,
data collection and evaluation requirements,
the bill would provide for enforcement
through civil monetary penalties and for
whistleblower protections.
Ten
states-Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii,
Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West
Virginia-have proposed similar legislation.
AACN
supports this bill and encourages its
members to contact their congressional
representatives to urge them to cosponsor
this important legislation. Use the AACN
Legislative Action Center.
Nurse Burnout Could Lessen Quality of Care
More
than 50% of hospital nurses say that
insufficient staffing is compromising
patient care and contributing to nurse
burnout, according to an American Federation
of Teachers survey. Peter D. Hart Research
Associates of Washington, D.C., interviewed
601 nurses by telephone for the survey,
which was released during a nursing union
news conference marking the beginning of
National Nurses Week in Trenton, N.J., in
May.
About
60% of the nurses surveyed said
understaffing negatively impacts patient
quality of care, and more than half of the
surveyed nurses said understaffing was a
"very" or "fairly" serious problem. The
survey found that, though medical-surgical
nurses said they should care for five
patients at a time, they are responsible for
eight patients on average. In addition, more
than 50% of surgical nurses surveyed said
they have considered leaving direct patient
care in the past two years.
Funding for Nurse Education Programs Lags
Although the Nurse Reinvestment Act has been
law for almost 10 months, funding is still
an issue. In May, a bipartisan group of U.S.
senators sent a letter to Sen. Arlen Specter
(R-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Subcommittee
on Labor, Health and Human Services and
Education, requesting funding for nurse
education programs. The letter, which was
also sent to the subcommittee's ranking
member, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), asked for
$175 million in 2004 fiscal year funds for
Title VIII nurse education programs,
including those established under the Nurse
Reinvestment Act.
The
senators noted that the nursing shortage
demands action in the form of money. The
Nurse Reinvestment Act, they wrote, builds
on the existing Title VIII nurse education
programs that allow nurses to repay loans
via work. The programs also play a role in
improving diversity among the nursing
workforce and expanding opportunities for
all nurses.
The
senators' request comes seven months after a
bipartisan group of U.S. representatives
also lobbied for funding for the
legislation. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), a
registered nurse, and Rep. Edward Whitfield
(R-KY) garnered bipartisan support in the
House in support of allocating money to the
training of new nurses and nurse educators.
A
number of senators have rallied support for
the programs, including Sen. Barbara
Mikulski (D-Md.), who proposed an early
amendment to establish funding for the Nurse
Reinvestment Act after it passed without
specific dollar figures. Congress earmarked
$113 million for nursing programs from the
2003 fiscal year budget, a $20 million
increase from 2002.
AACN
supports not less than $175 million for
Title VIII appropriations for FY2004. To
contact your senators regarding funding,
visit the AACN Legislative Action Center
online.
CDC
Issues Alert on Pox-Like Outbreak
As of
mid-June, at least 19 people in three
Midwestern states had contracted a disease
related to smallpox, marking the first
outbreak of the life-threatening illness in
the U.S. The outbreak comes as the global
epidemic of severe acute respiratory
syndrome appears to be coming under control.
Concerned that the illness could spread, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
issued a nationwide alert to doctors and
public health officials to be on the lookout
for more cases.
Known
as monkeypox, the disease is caused by a
virus in the same family as that which
causes smallpox. The disease was apparently
spread by rodents known as prairie dogs,
which have become popular as pets. The
symptoms of monkeypox are similar to
smallpox: fever, headache, cough and an
extremely painful rash of pus-filled sores
that spreads across the body.
Because
the disease has not been seen in this part
of the world, the severity of the threat is
unclear. All patients and infected animals
have been isolated.
Authorities estimate that monkeypox has a
mortality rate of between 1% and 10%,
compared with a mortality rate of about 30%
for smallpox. The monkeypox virus is
believed to spread through physical contact
with a sick person or infected animal, or
through infected body fluids. However,
health officials said it apparently is not
as easily spread as the highly infectious
smallpox virus.
Although monkeypox is untreatable, there is
some indication that an antiviral drug may
have some usefulness. The smallpox vaccine
is believed to be protective against the
monkeypox virus.
Grants Support Nursing Workforce Diversity
Health
and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson
recently announced the award of 16 grants
totaling $3.5 million to support nursing
education opportunities for minorities and
other disadvantaged students. The Nursing
Workforce Diversity grants will go to
nursing schools and nonprofit organizations
to fund scholarships or stipends, and
preparation and retention activities for
disadvantaged students, including those from
racial and ethnic minority groups currently
underrepresented among registered nurses.
The
grants are funded through the HHS Health
Resources and Services Administration.
Health Costs Continue to Rise
Growth
in U.S. healthcare spending slowed slightly
in 2002, climbing 9.6% compared with 10% the
previous year, according to a study reported
in the Health Affairs journal. However,
costs continued to balloon at more than
three times the rate of inflation. Premiums
charged by health insurers and paid by
consumers and employers climbed 15%, the
biggest spike in at least a decade, the
study found.
The
study tallied spending by employers and
private health insurance companies on
hospital costs, prescription drugs and
doctors' visits. Hospital, drug and doctor
costs are widely seen as driving premium
increases. However, the fact that insurers
price premiums in anticipation of rises in
these costs can cause discrepancies in the
growth rates.
For the
second consecutive year, hospital costs
dominated the increase, accounting for 51%
of the overall cost spiral.
The
data are derived from samples from the
Milliman USA health cost index, considered a
bellwether of private health costs.
Public Policy Snapshot
New
Standards for Blood Pressure
The
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
has released new federal guidelines
regarding blood pressure levels that put
people at risk for high blood pressure later
in life:
 |
Normal |
Prehypertension |
Stage
One Hypertension |
Stage
Two Hypertension |
Pressure
Systolic |
Less
than 120 |
120-139 |
140-159 |
More
than 160 |
|
Diastolic |
Less
than 80 |
80-89 |
90-99 |
More
than 100 |
|
Treatment |
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise healthy |
None |
None |
Mostly
diuretics; possibly other drugs |
Two-drug combo usually including
diuretic |
|
With
other diseases |
None |
Treat
diseases |
Multiple medications |
Multiple medications |
For
more information about these and other
issues, visit the AACN Web site.
Submit Research, Creative Solutions
Abstracts for NTI
AACN is
inviting research and creative solutions
poster abstracts for consideration for
AACN's 2004 National Teaching Institute and
Critical Care Exposition in Orlando, Fla.
In
addition to the posters, four awards will be
presented for oral research abstracts
reflecting outstanding original research,
replication research or research
utilization. Each of these awards provides
an additional $1,000 toward NTI expenses.
Sept. 1
is the deadline to submit the abstracts.
The
application, as well as guidelines and
resources are now available online. |
