Latest Federal Legislation Invests in Nursing Workforce Development
Driven by evidence-based practice and patient-centered care, nurses have earned the faith of the American public. For two decades, nurses have been ranked the most trusted and ethical profession in the United States. Although trust is critical, what it lacks is support for the profession through federal investment in research, education, and workforce issues for long-term stability.
Cancer Cells’ Aneuploidy May Be Why They Resist Treatment
The extra or missing chromosomes—also called aneuploidy—in 90% of cancer cells may be a factor in treatment resistance, a new study shows. Researchers reported the findings in Developmental Cell.
Genetic Disorder Reference Sheet: CDH1 and Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer
Pathogenic variants in the CDH1 gene are associated with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC), a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma that infiltrates into the stomach wall. It causes the stomach wall to thicken without forming a distinct mass, which limits effective screening strategies.
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New HHS Initiative Will Reduce Maternal and Infant Health Disparities
To reduce the disparities affecting maternity health outcomes, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Women’s Health (OWH) launched the Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Data and Analysis Initiative, an $8 million contract with Premier, Inc., the agency announced in December 2021. The initiative is rallying a network of hospitals to deploy evidence-based best practices in maternity care.
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Families See Increase in Healthcare Premiums, Increase in Covered Services
Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums increased by 4% for families in 2021, bringing the average annual cost to $22,221 per family, according to the results of a benchmark Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Employer Health Benefits survey released in November 2021. KFF also assessed the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on workplace health benefits, including telemedicine and mental health services.
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Break Bad News to Patients With This Step-by-Step Guide
When hearing results from blood work or repeat imaging—regardless of whether they are “good” or “bad”—patients want and deserve to be given information truthfully and objectively. Oncology advanced practice providers are often the bearers of bad news, which can be uncomfortable and stressful. But here’s how you can hold those conversations with finesse, empathy, and respect.
Local Policies Have Reduced Availability, Use of Flavored Tobacco Products
Local policies have reduced the availability and youth and adult use of products like flavored e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes compared to areas without restrictions, the Truth Initiative reported after the first comprehensive quality review that looked at the outcomes of flavor and menthol tobacco restrictions. The research, which was conducted in partnership with the Research Triangle Institute, was published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
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Fructose Fuels Colorectal Cancer Growth, Study Shows
Excess consumption of fructose in additives like table sugar or high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) not only contributes to obesity, but it may increase colorectal cancer (CRC) cell survival, leading to larger tumors and increased symptom burden in patients at higher risk, researchers showed in study results published in Nature. However, blocking the body’s uptake of the sweetener may be a key to controlling the disease.
Team Training Develops Nurses’ Interprofessional Communication Skills
Oncology nurses must have effective communication and team-based skills to work across disciplines with other members of the care team. In an oncology setting, teamwork promotes safer, more efficient, and higher quality care, as well as a more positive and supportive practice environment. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) has used team training to develop those skills in our staff over the past 15 years.
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Train and Retain: From Orientation to Leadership, Here Are the Strategies That Experienced Staff Developers Use
The oncology nursing specialty is in dire need of a solid foundation of eligible staff. As of 2020, more than 51% of the nursing workforce was aged 40 years or older, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated underlying factors such as stress, physical and mental health, and inequities present in the profession for decades.