The "Heart" of COVID-19: Brugada Syndrome and Post-SARS-CoV-2 Virus Cardiac Nursing Care.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an illness that was sudden, unexpected, and global. Primarily a disease of the vascular endothelium, the virus threatens all of core systems, as well as behavioral and mental health, during the acute and long-term phases. Attention is now being given to the identification and care of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. This article presents the case of a "long hauler" who presented post-cardiac arrest with a history of COVID-19. Diagnosed with Brugada syndrome, his assessment, diagnosis, and care are discussed. In addition, the need for early identification and care for patients with post-COVID-19 symptoms is addressed.

The vaping epidemic: Calling nurses to action.

Youth e-cigarette use was declared a national epidemic in 2018. This article discusses e-cigarette- or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) and highlights the unique role nurses can have as advocates, patient educators, and champions of health promotion and disease prevention for their patients and families.

Empowering nurses to activate the rapid response team.

All clinical nurses need to be prepared to recognize deterioration in a patient's clinical status and activate the rapid response team when appropriate. This article explores the clinical nurse's role in recognizing and responding to deterioration in a patient's condition with a focus on hospital-based nurses practicing on a medical-surgical unit.

Smoke screen: The teen vaping epidemic uncovers a new concerning addiction.

The use of nicotine products among adolescents is now designated as a national epidemic by the United States Surgeon General. The largest one-year increase ever recorded for substance use in the adolescent population should sound the alarm for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) practicing in family health and pediatrics. Vaping, or the use of e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), has been purported by the vaping industry as a less harmful alternative for tobacco users in their attempt to quit smoking. In adolescents, vaping represents a dangerous and highly addictive health behavior. Initiatives on both the state and federal levels have begun to address marketing and access to young users. However, the active involvement of NPs on the front line of primary care will be necessary to combat this imposing threat. The protection of our young patients from nicotine addiction and the education of patients and families about the potential dangers of e-cigarettes are imperative to prevent harm. This article addresses concerns related to e-cigarette use in the adolescent population and the important role NPs can play in promoting their health and well-being.

Review of therapies for the treatment of oral chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Oral chronic graft-versus-host disease is a frequent complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, contributing to patient morbidity and mortality. Although an optimal treatment is not available, several systemic and topical or local therapies have shown efficacy in treating the disease. New therapies are being tested through clinical trials. This article examines the efficacy and safety of reported treatment modalities studied from 2006-2012. Nurses will encounter patients with oral chronic graft-versus-host disease suffering from pain, discomfort, and a decreased quality of life. Knowledge of new therapies found to be effective in managing these symptoms is imperative. Nurses play a key role in the assessment and management of this complex oral disease.