Bezlotoxumab for Prevention of Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection With a Focus on Immunocompromised Patients.

Objectives: Approximately 25% of patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) will experience recurrence, which is greater in immunocompromised patients. We report experience with an institutional guideline targeting high-risk immunocompromised patients. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with CDI who met institutional criteria for bezlotoxumab due to high risk for recurrent CDI between June 1, 2017, and November 30, 2018. The primary endpoint of recurrent CDI within 12 weeks was compared between patients who received the standard of care (SoC) plus or minus bezlotoxumab. Results: Twenty-three patients received bezlotoxumab infusion plus SoC and were compared to 30 SoC patients. 84% of patients were immunocompromised and 54.7% were transplant recipients. The primary endpoint occurred in 13% of bezlotoxumab patients compared to 23.3% of SoC patients. No serious adverse effects were identified. Conclusion: Bezlotoxumab was associated with a meaningful reduction in recurrent CDI in this cohort largely comprising immunocompromised and transplant patients. Larger studies are warranted to evaluate bezlotoxumab in this population.

Educating APRN Students About Telehealth Credentialing, Licensing, and Billing.

BACKGROUND: An essential component of advanced practice nursing (APRN) education includes how to facilitate and adopt telehealth into practice, which includes becoming familiar with what is needed to practice telehealth and how to effectively bill for this service. This article describes the integration of telehealth credentialing, licensing, and billing into a preexisting APRN Role Practicum course. METHOD: Participants consisted of two cohorts (n = 129) of APRN students enrolled in a role preparation course within a Doctor of Nursing Practice curriculum. Students' knowledge and perceptions regarding the content of a prerecorded lecture were assessed using a pretest/posttest design. The posttest also included optional module assessment questions. RESULTS: Student knowledge regarding the information presented increased, and overall student feedback was positive. CONCLUSION: Telehealth content was successfully integrated into a preexisting APRN Role Practicum course. Students found the information relevant to future practice and became knowledgeable regarding telehealth laws and regulations. [J Nurs Educ. 2022;61(7):413-416.].

Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice Clinical Curriculum Map.

BACKGROUND: The development of a comprehensive and structured clinical curriculum map can outline the specific content covered throughout a nurse practitioner program and provide a method for identifying redundancy and omissions in the didactic clinical content. METHOD: A curriculum map outlining the specific clinical content covered in each didactic course in a Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice advanced practice program was created. The curriculum map incorporated accreditation standards, certification testing domains, and common primary care diagnoses. RESULTS: A curriculum map supported the development of organized, consistent, and transparent clinical didactic content across courses and the program. The curriculum map allows for frequent curriculum and course review and updates to help meet program and accreditation standards. CONCLUSION: The development and implementation of the clinical didactic curriculum map facilitates the integration of core clinical content in an organized manner that builds learning and prepares future nurse practitioners. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(7):440-445.].

Ketamine Infusions for Outpatient Pain Management: A Policy Development Project.

Current literature supports using ketamine for both acute and chronic pain management. It is imperative that the development of evidence-based protocols and policies keep pace with health care delivery to ensure patient safety. This project's objective was to formulate an outpatient ketamine infusion policy that promotes consistent and evidence-based care within a specified hospital system. This policy addresses potential side effects and minimization of adverse events by addressing patient selection, level of nursing care required, appropriate monitoring, and staff education.

Advocating for Childcare Employee Single-Dose Tdap Vaccination to Combat Infant Pertussis.

Incidence rates of pertussis have been higher over the past 5 years than at any time since the first pertussis vaccine became widely available, with infants younger than 12 months old being particularly vulnerable. Once infected, infants may experience severe respiratory symptoms and incur high rates of hospitalization, and they account for the vast majority of pertussis-related deaths each year. With the diminished effectiveness of herd immunity, experts increasingly rely on cocooning to protect at-risk populations against infectious diseases such as pertussis. Cocooning calls for vaccination of all close contacts of vulnerable individuals, including childcare employees. Despite government recommendations, only 11 states address employee tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination in their childcare regulations. Advanced practice nurses can play a significant role in protecting infants younger than 12 months old through initiating and supporting advocacy efforts at the state level for childcare employee Tdap vaccination. This article explores initial advocacy steps to be taken by advanced practice registered nurses to address this important issue.

Evaluating a college student's urethritis.

Gonorrhea is the second most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) after chlamydia. After a significant decrease from 1975 to 2009, trends reveal that gonorrhea is on the rise. NPs need to review the latest CDC guidelines regarding STIs, as treatment guidelines are regularly changing.