Critical Care eNewsline Jan. 24, 2013

AACN NEWS - NTI registration opens

NEWS - Infection 'frequently complicates' VAD placement

EVIDENCE - New safety checklist for pediatric ICUs

RESOURCES - New mechanical circulatory support guidelines

AACN NEWS - Order your official NTI T-shirt

"The REAL Healthcare Reform: How Embracing Civility Can Beat Back Burnout
and Revive Your Healthcare Career ," by Linda H. Leekley and Stacey L. Turnure

Register for Feb. 6 webinar on healthcare under new Congress

Register for the webinar "Nursing and Healthcare Delivery Under the 113th Congress," Feb. 6 from 1 to 2 p.m. EST, hosted by the Nursing Community. Two experienced federal representatives will provide insight on how leadership changes in the House and the Senate, as well as recent legislation to address the fiscal cliff, will affect nursing and outline how implementation of provisions in the Affordable Care Act may impact nursing practice.

Register for webinar on heparin labeling changes

The U.S. Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention is offering a webinar to prepare for the impact of a new heparin label standard, which requires manufacturers to label the strength of the entire container of medication followed closely by how much medication is in each milliliter. The requirements, effective May 1, will result in a transition period when both old and new labels are in use, creating the potential for confusion and errors. The one-hour webinar will be offered (all times EST) Feb. 18 at 11 a.m., Feb. 20 at 3 p.m., Feb. 22 at 10 a.m., Feb. 26 at noon and Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. Access resource pages from USP and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Md., for more information.

Comment on proposed alarm management patient safety goal

The Joint Commission, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., invites comments on a 2014 proposed National Patient Safety Goal on the management of alarms. The 15-question survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. You can also comment by email. Deadline is Feb. 26.

Submit nominations for AACN President's Award for Chapters

Nominate chapters for the 2013 AACN President's Award for Chapters, which recognizes exemplary efforts to incorporate the association's annual theme, Dare To, in chapter programs and activities while furthering AACN's mission, vision and values. Nominations close Friday, Feb. 15. Learn more and nominate.

Apply for AACN scholarship

AACN members can apply for a continuing professional development scholarship to attend "Conflict Engagement for Health Professionals" (a professional certificate program), March 7-10; April 18-21 in Palo Alto, Calif., or Sept. 12-15; Oct. 31-Nov. 3 in Minneapolis. For details on this program, to learn about other events or to apply for a scholarship, visit AACN's scholarship page.

Participate in study on nurse turnover

Minnie Major, a doctoral student at Capella University, Minneapolis, is conducting a study to learn what nurses think about voluntary turnover in the hospital setting. Participate by completing the survey. Email Major with questions.

AJCC publishes new safety checklist for pediatric ICUs

January's American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC) contains "The KIDS SAFE Checklist for Pediatric Intensive Care Units," a mnemonic tool with the potential to reduce errors of omission. KIDS SAFE stands for kids' development needs, infection, deep-vein thrombosis prophylaxis, skin integrity, sedation, analgesia, family and enteral needs.

CNE of the month: Article in AJCC finds ventilator bundle team improves compliance with sedation vacation

"Dedicated Multidisciplinary Ventilator Bundle Team and Compliance With Sedation Vacation," a continuing nursing education (CNE) article in January's American Journal of Critical Care, finds the team improved compliance and notes that in a large-volume tertiary center, a dedicated ventilator bundle rounding team might be more effective than the primary rounding team in achieving compliance with some bundle components.

Study supports need for randomized trial of milrinone for newborn PPH

January's Pediatric Critical Care Medicine includes "Pharmacology of Milrinone in Neonates With Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) of the Newborn and Suboptimal Response to Inhaled Nitric Oxide," which finds that milrinone improved pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics in 11 neonates with PPH, supporting the need for a randomized controlled trial.

Behavioral and adaptive function in toddlers with sickle cell anemia 'poorer with older age'

Overall function of toddlers with sickle cell anemia is in the average range on neurodevelopment scales, but behavioral and adaptive function is poorer with older age, according to "Developmental Function in Toddlers With Sickle Cell Anemia," posted online Jan. 6 in Pediatrics.

Shiftwork Sleep Disorder: Free Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)

Do you work the night shift or rotating shifts? Do some of your patients struggle with sleep problems? Shiftwork sleep disorder (SWSD) can reduce your job performance, decrease quality of life and jeopardize patient safety. SWSD can also lower patients' quality of life and put them at risk for injury. Earn 1.25 contact hours through a new on-demand webinar, and learn how to identify, manage and prevent SWSD. Access this free CNE module.

Infection 'frequently complicates' VAD placement

"A Prospective, Multicenter Study of Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Infections," published online Jan. 11 by Circulation, concludes that infection "frequently complicates" VAD placement "despite the use of newer, smaller devices." Of the 150 patients in the study, 22 percent developed 34 VAD-related infections. A history of depression and elevated baseline serum creatinine may increase the risk of infection.

Revised sepsis and septic shock guidelines

A revised and updated edition of "Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2012" — previously published in 2008 — was officially released at the Society of Critical Care Medicine's 42nd Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Jan. 20.

New guidelines for mechanical circulatory support devices

Access "The 2013 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Guidelines for Mechanical Circulatory Support: Executive Summary," which The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation released Jan. 10.

NTI registration opens

Early-bird registration is now open for the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI), which takes place in Boston this year. Register by Thursday, April 4, and save $76. And be sure to sign up for a hotel room through AACN Housing. Early booking is strongly advised to ensure the best selection.

Order your official NTI 2013 T-shirt early and save

Order your official NTI 2013 T-shirt from the online AACN Bookstore, and plan to wear it at the opening session, Monday, May 20, in honor of AACN President Kathryn Roberts. The shirts are black with the "Dare To" artwork on the back and a small NTI logo on the front. The presale price is $15 plus tax and $3.50 shipping until April 4. Both black and white T-shirts will be available on-site at NTI for $20 each. Proceeds from all T-shirt sales benefit AACN's host chapters: Greater Boston, Merrimack Valley and Southeastern Massachusetts.

AACN CSI Academy adds Austin, Texas hospitals

AACN continues nationwide implementation of AACN Clinical Scene Investigator (CSI) Academy with the addition of eight hospitals in greater Austin, Texas. AACN CSI Academy is a national nurse leadership and skill-building program that empowers bedside nurses to improve patient outcomes, as well as bottom-line impact to hospitals. Beth Martin, Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte, N.C., will serve as faculty lead for the 16-month Austin area program. This new cohort joins current academy participants in Indianapolis, North Carolina and Boston.

AACN's new ACNPC-AG certification

Apply to take the exam for ACNPC-AG, AACN's new certification for adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners. ACNPC-AG is an entry-level advanced practice certification in alignment with the "Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education." To better prepare for the exam, register for AACN's new ACNPC-AG certification review course, available on-demand (streaming from AACN's website). The course reflects the ACNPC-AG test plan and is offered free of charge to individuals who purchase the exam.

Dare To

From January's AACN Bold Voices
"Dare to Let Go"— Kathryn Roberts, AACN President 2012-2013