SCI Nursing Journal

From the John A. Hartford Institute on Geriatric Nursing www.hartfordign.org
Issue Number 19, 2004
Series Editor: Marie Boltz, APRN, MSN, GNP

Horowitz’s Impact of Event Scale
An Assessment of Post Traumatic Stress in Older Adults
By: Joan Marren, MEd, RN, Chief Operating Officer, VNSNY and Steven Christianson, DO, MM, Medical Director, VNS CHOICE and VNSNY Home Care

WHY: Like others with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), older adults respond to trauma with symptoms of re-experiencing, emotional numbing, behavioral avoidance, and increased physiological arousal. Because of age-related changes and associated disease processes, stress reaction in older adults may lead to a deterioration of function and a worsening of existing conditions. Therefore, older adults should be considered a high risk group following a disaster. Read the rest of this entry »

From the John A. Hartford Institute on Geriatric Nursing www.hartfordign.org and the Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org

Communication Difficulties: Assessment and Interventions
By: Della Frazier-Rios, RN, MS and Cora Zembrzuski, APRN, MSN, CS, PhD (cand.)

WHY: Dementia impairs a person’s ability to communicate effectively. It reduces the ability to decode and understand information (receptive language) and the ability to encode and therefore express information (expressive language). Ability to mediate actions through internal speech is also reduced, thus decreasing the person’s capacity to plan and problem-solve. Read the rest of this entry »

Fries, J. M. (2005). Critical Rehabilitation of The Patient With Spinal Cord Injury.
Critical Care Nurse Quarterly 28 (2), 179-187.

Reviewed by: Carol L. Leedom MSN, RN

Patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI) are not always admitted to rehabilitation facilities/units as early as desirable because of multi-trauma they may have experienced. Many are returning to critical care units (CCU) secondary to complications. This article reviews the need for the critical care nurse to be skillful in early rehabilitation techniques in order to prevent complications in persons with SCI. Fries speaks to the need to prevent decubitus ulcers and contractures rather than treating them, as these wounds have devastating and far reaching implications for the patient with SCI. Read the rest of this entry »

Catalano, J. T. (2003). Nursing Now! Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s Trends.
Philadelphia: F. A. Davis. ISBN: 0-8036-1040-8, 452 pages,
$39.95.

Review by: Carol L. White, RN, BSN, CRRN

Nursing Now! Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s Trends presents important issues and trends that are needed in the development of professional nurses as they face the challenges of nursing today and tomorrow. It is intended, primarily, for nursing students, but practicing nurses will also benefit from the wide range of issues and trends covered.
Joseph Catalano, PhD, RN, has first-hand knowledge of the nursing profession and as a nursing professor; he presents the ever-changing challenges in health care. Read the rest of this entry »

Evidence-Based Guidelines for Optimal Manual Wheelchair Selection, Setup and Propulsion Techniques
Alicia M. Koontz, PhD, ATP, RET, Annmarie Kelleher, MS, OTR/L, ATP, and Shirley Fitzgerald, PhD

Objectives
• Participants will be able to describe evidence-based clinical practice guidelines concerning wheelchair selection, wheelchair setup, and wheelchair propulsion techniques.

Wheelchairs are the key to providing independence for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, research has discovered a direct causal link between wheelchair propulsion technique and upper limb pain and injuries. Read the rest of this entry »

Diane Hartwig, MS, ACNP, BC

Treasurer’s Report

On behalf of the AASCIN board of directors, I would like to thank those of you who contributed to AASCIN along with your membership renewal this year. As you know, AASCIN offers many wonderful opportunities for members to learn and grow professionally. Because of member contributions we can continue to provide high caliber speakers at our Annual Conference. Read the rest of this entry »

Lynn C. Parsons, DSN, RN, CNA-BC

Dana Reeve, the 44-year-old widow of Christopher Reeve, died shortly before midnight on March 6. She leaves behind a son, Will, age 13, two step children (from Christopher’s former relationship with Gae Exton), Mathew, 26, and Alexandra, 22, her father, Dr. Charles Morosini, and two sisters, Adrienne Heilman and Dr. Deborah Huschle.
Read the rest of this entry »

Lynn C. Parsons, DSN, RN, CNA

Introduction

This will be my last editorial column, as I will be rotating off of the SCI Nursing Editorial Board after serving for six years. I wish the new Editorial Board well and want to express my strong desire to maintain excellence—a standard that was established by Susan Thomason, our immediate past editor, who will also be rotating off the Editorial Board at the conclusion of this term of service. Excellence in nursing scholarship, practice initiatives, research-based (data-based) interventions, and leadership strategies are components of the SCI Nursing journal that our membership has come to expect. Read the rest of this entry »

Carol Mills, MA, RN

The backbone of America has always been the dreams of its people. From the moment the desperate hopes of our ancestors were realized and freedom became a reality to them, to the day all men were declared equal, the people who chose to live under our flag found that their dreams could come true if they worked hard enough. Today, millions of people, both young and old, are encouraged to pursue their dreams, for the future of America is ultimately in their hands.

At some point, you decided to pursue the profession of nursing. Whether it was because you wanted to save the world or to follow in the footsteps of your idol, you chose a career that would improve the health of the nation. Do you remember when you decided to become involved in nursing? Whenever someone finds his or her passion, there is a sense of pride and self-actualization that consumes the mind and soul. Read the rest of this entry »

Now is the time for you as an AASCIN member to take action. Become involved in AASCIN by participating in one of our six standing committees and editorial board. Descriptions of the committee/board are listed below. If you are interested, please contact the AASCIN office for a committee interest form and return it with a current resume or curriculum vitae. Remember, it is your organization. AASCIN needs YOU! Read the rest of this entry »