Shifting Culture by Creating Synergy and Equity Through the Unification of Tenure Criteria.

BACKGROUND: Tenure requirements within universities vary; however, most focus on excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship. Within our university, faculty with either research or clinical doctorates were on both tenure and clinical tracks, with reported marginalization from clinical track faculty. METHOD: A task force was convened in 2018 to develop a unified single track that included a single set of criteria for all College of Health Professions faculty to obtain tenure. The Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) Roadmap was used to guide the work of the task force. RESULT: The implementation of a single track has influenced discourse around previous notions regarding what is considered "tenure worthy" and has opened the door to contractual equity among faculty. CONCLUSION: Internal structures, such as implementation of a single track, can support cohesion and productivity that facilitates collaborations among faculty of all ranks and degree backgrounds, promoting a culture that continues to embrace intellectual discourse and unity. [J Nurs Educ. 2022;61(8):455-459.].

A Review of the Pharmacology and Anesthetic Implications of Cannabis.

Cannabis is now legalized, for medical and/or recreational use, in numerous states. Although the cultural shift in acceptance of cannabis is apparent in the public, that sentiment has not necessarily translated to healthcare professionals. As anesthesia providers, we must understand the pharmacology of cannabis and its effects on physiology to provide safe anesthetic care to patients who consume it. The purpose of this article is to describe cannabis and its pharmacologic and physiologic effects and to review the anesthetic implications of its short-term and long-term use.

A Review of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs.

It is essential that nurse anesthetists are aware of the potential side effects and interaction of drugs that patients are taking before administering an anesthetic. Among the most commonly taken medications are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Because these drugs have become almost ubiquitous, there is a risk underestimating potential effects, which may be harmful for the patient undergoing anesthesia and surgery. These effects can range from mild to severe and can be exacerbated by drug interactions with many commonly administered medications. This review of NSAID pharmacology a d interactions is intended to serve as an update and refresher for nurse anesthetists to increase their awareness of the potential untoward effects of postoperative bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, asthma, hepatic and renal toxicity and cardiovascular events.

The prevalence and patterns of substance abuse among nurse anesthesia students.

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence, demographic factors, outcomes, and preventative measures for substance abuse among nurse anesthesia students over a 5-year period from 2008 to 2012. An electronic survey was sent to 111 program directors of accredited nurse anesthesia programs in the United States. Twenty-three programs (response rate = 21.7%) reported data related to 2,439 students. Sixteen incidents of substance abuse were reported for a 5-year prevalence of 0.65%. Opioids were the most frequent drug of choice (n = 9). The programs identified no predisposing risk factors in 50% of the incidents. For the students, reported outcomes included voluntary entry into treatment (n = 10), dismissal from the program (n = 7), loss of nursing license (n = 2), and 1 death. Pre-enrollment background checks and drug testing for cause were the most commonly reported screening practices. The most frequently reported prevention strategy was wellness promotion education. The prevalence was lower among student registered nurse anesthetists, as compared with certified registered nurse anesthetists. Although additional studies are necessary to verify this finding, an opportunity might exist for programs to be proactive in assessing risk postgraduation. Future studies evaluating the effectiveness of wellness promotion efforts might lead toward a standardized, best practice approach to risk reduction strategies.