Is Anemia in Low Income Pregnant Women Related to Their Infants' Having Anemia? A Cohort Study of Pregnant Women-Infant Pairs in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Given evidence that anemia in the first year of life is associated with long-term cognitive, motor, and behavioral deficits, reducing infant anemia is important. The primary objective of this research is to examine whether anemia in low income pregnant women in the United States is associated with anemia in the women's infants. METHODS: This cohort study linked Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance data on pregnant women with incomes below 185% of the federal poverty level from 2010 and 2011 with data on 6-11 month olds from 2011, resulting in a sample of 21,246 uniquely matched mother-infant pairs. We examined bivariate and multivariate relationship between anemia severity in pregnant women and in their infants. RESULTS: Seventeen percent of women had anemia (13.1% mild and 3.9% moderate to severe) and 20.1% infants had anemia (16.4% mild and 3.7% moderate to severe). For both women and infants, blacks had substantially higher anemia rates than whites. In bivariate analysis and multivariate analyses maternal anemia showed a dose-response relationship to infant anemia. In predicted probabilities from the multivariate models, 27.2% of infants born to pregnant women with moderate to severe anemia had anemia, compared to 23.3% for infants whose mothers had mild anemia, and 18.3% for infants whose mothers did not have anemia. CONCLUSION: This study provides strong evidence of a relationship between maternal and infant anemia in the United States among people with low incomes. Efforts to reduce anemia during pregnancy may be an important strategy for minimizing childhood anemia.

Deciphering chest pain in women.

The causes of chest pain range from benign sources such as muscle strain to life-threatening diagnoses such as aortic dissection and myocardial infarction. The likelihood and presentations of disorders causing chest pain are different between women and men. This article highlights important features in determining a correct diagnosis.

Gender differences in nurse practitioner salaries.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: While male nurses have been shown to earn considerably more than female nurses, there is less evidence on gender disparities in salary among nurse practitioners (NPs). This study examines whether the gender gap in NP salaries persists after controlling for differences in work setting and demographic factors. METHODS: We analyzed the relationship between gender and salary (2011 pretax earnings) among 6591 NPs working as NPs at least 35 h per week, using the 2012 National Sample Survey of Nurse Practitioners. We first conducted bivariate regression analyses examining the relationship between gender and earnings, and then developed a multivariate model that controlled for individual differences in demographic and work characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Male NPs earned $12,859 more than female NPs, after adjusting for individual differences in demographics and work characteristics. The gender gap was $7405 for recent NP graduates, and grew over time. Male NPs earned significantly more than female NPs across all clinical specialty areas. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The gender disparities in NP salaries documented here regardless of professional seniority or clinical area should spark healthcare organizations to conduct pay equity assessments of their employees' salaries to identify and ameliorate pay inequality.

Implementation and Impact of Patient Lay Navigator-Led Advance Care Planning Conversations.

CONTEXT: Advance care planning (ACP) improves alignment between patient preferences for life-sustaining treatment and care received at end of life (EOL). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate implementation of lay navigator-led ACP. METHODS: A convergent, parallel mixed-methods design was used to evaluate implementation of navigator-led ACP across 12 cancer centers. Data collection included 1) electronic navigation records, 2) navigator surveys (n = 45), 3) claims-based patient outcomes (n = 820), and 4) semistructured navigator interviews (n = 26). Outcomes of interest included 1) the number of ACP conversations completed, 2) navigator self-efficacy, 3) patient resource utilization, hospice use, and chemotherapy at EOL, and 4) navigator-perceived barriers and facilitators to ACP. RESULTS: From June 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015, 50 navigators completed Respecting Choices® First Steps ACP Facilitator training. Navigators approached 18% of patients (1319/8704); 481 completed; 472 in process; 366 declined. Navigators were more likely to approach African American patients than Caucasian patients (20% vs. 14%, P < 0.001). Significant increases in ACP self-efficacy were observed after training. The mean score for feeling prepared to conduct ACP conversations increased from 5.6/10 to 7.5/10 (P < 0.001). In comparison with patients declining ACP participation (n = 171), decedents in their final 30 days of life who engaged in ACP (n = 437) had fewer hospitalizations (46% vs. 56%, P = 0.02). Key facilitators of successful implementation included physician buy-in, patient readiness, and prior ACP experience; barriers included space limitations, identifying the "right" time to start conversations, and personal discomfort discussing EOL. CONCLUSION: A navigator-led ACP program was feasible and may be associated with lower rates of resource utilization near EOL.

Preeclampsia and the Risk of Future Vascular Disease and Mortality: A Review.

INTRODUCTION: Preeclampsia increases a woman's long-term risk of vascular disease and/or death including chronic hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and venous thromboembolism. The literature suggests that maternity care providers may be unaware of this association. METHODS: A database search was conducted examining the long-term effects of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy using MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, ISI Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Inclusion criteria were: 1) English language, 2) peer-reviewed journals, 3) January 2000 to July 2015, 4) systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses, and 5) studies that addressed the relationship between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and vascular disease such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cerebrovascular diseases. RESULTS: Three systematic reviews with meta-analysis qualified for this review. They represented 48 unique studies from 20 countries and included a total of 3,598,601 women. Preeclampsia was associated with a 3-fold increased risk for developing chronic hypertension. Compared with normotensive women, those with preeclampsia experienced double the risk, or more, for CVD or CVD-related mortality. Preeclampsia was also associated with approximately double the risk for fatal or nonfatal stroke. DISCUSSION: Preeclampsia is associated with an increased risk for future chronic hypertension, CVD, cerebrovascular disease, and death. While evidence shows that women with cardiac risk factors may have a higher chance of developing preeclampsia, many women with preeclampsia have no CVD risk factors. Measures to prevent preeclampsia such as calcium supplementation for women with low calcium intake and low-dose aspirin for women with a history of more than one incident of preeclampsia or a preterm birth associated with preeclampsia are supported by evidence. Reduction of modifiable risks associated with CVD before, during, and after pregnancy is recommended. All care providers and women should be educated regarding these risks and the importance of pregnancy history to future health.

How important are autonomy and work setting to nurse practitioners' job satisfaction?

PURPOSE: Nurse practitioners (NPs) have reported aspects of their jobs that they are more and less satisfied with. However, few studies have examined the factors that predict overall job satisfaction. This study uses a large national sample to examine the extent to which autonomy and work setting predict job satisfaction. DATA SOURCES: The 2012 National Sample Survey of Nurse Practitioners (n = 8311) was used to examine bivariate and multivariate relationships between work setting and three autonomy variables (independent billing practices, having one's NP skills fully utilized, and relationship with physician), and job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: NPs working in primary care reported the highest levels of autonomy across all three autonomy measures, while those working in hospital surgical settings reported the lowest levels. Autonomy, specifically feeling one's NP skills were fully utilized, was the factor most predictive of satisfaction. In multivariate analyses, those who strongly agreed their skills were being fully utilized had satisfaction scores almost one point higher than those who strongly disagreed. Work setting was only marginally related to job satisfaction. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: In order to attract and retain NPs in the future, healthcare organizations should ensure that NPs' skills are being fully utilized.

Does Prior RN Clinical Experience Predict Academic Success in Graduate Nurse Practitioner Programs?

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence on whether prior RN clinical experience is predictive of academic success in graduate nurse practitioner (NP) programs. The purpose of this study was to explore whether the frequently held assumption that more prior clinical experience is associated with better academic success in The George Washington University online NP programs. METHOD: Applications (n = 106) for clinical NP students entering from 2008-2010 were examined along with data on academic performance. RESULTS: No relationship was found between years of prior RN clinical experience and three educational outcome variables (cumulative grade point average [GPA], clinical course GPA, and having failed any courses or been put on probation). However, students with the most prior RN clinical experience were less likely to graduate in 4 years, compared with those with the least experience. CONCLUSION: These findings serve as a building block of empirical evidence for admissions committees as they consider entry requirements for NP programs.

Effect of a disease-specific advance care planning intervention on end-of-life care.

OBJECTIVES: To compare patient preferences for end-of-life care with care received at the end of life. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with individuals with congestive heart failure or end-stage renal disease and their surrogates who were randomized to receive patient-centered advance care planning (PC-ACP) or usual care. SETTING: Two centers in Wisconsin with associated clinics and dialysis units. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 313 individuals and their surrogates who completed entry data, 110 died. INTERVENTION: During PC-ACP, the trained facilitator assessed individual and surrogate understanding of and experiences with the illness, provided information about disease-specific treatment options and their benefits and burden, assisted in documentation of treatment preferences, and assisted the surrogates in understanding the patient's preferences and the surrogate's role. MEASUREMENTS: Preferences were documented and compared with care received at the end of life according to surrogate interviews or medical charts. RESULTS: Patients (74%) frequently continued to make their own decisions about care to the end. The experimental group had fewer (1/62) cases in which patients' wishes about cardiopulmonary resuscitation were not met than in the control group (6/48) but not significantly so. Significantly more experimental patients withdrew from dialysis than controls. CONCLUSION: Patients and their surrogates were generally willing to discuss preferences with a trained facilitator. Most patients received the care they desired at end of life or altered their preferences to be in accord with the care they could receive. A larger sample with surrogate decision-makers is needed to detect significant differences.

Effect of a disease-specific planning intervention on surrogate understanding of patient goals for future medical treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a disease-specific planning process can improve surrogate understanding of goals of patients with life-limiting illnesses for future medical treatments. DESIGN: A multisite randomized controlled trial conducted between January 1, 2004 and July 31, 2007. SETTING: Six outpatient clinics of large community or university health systems in three Wisconsin cities. PARTICIPANTS: Competent, English-speaking adults aged 18 and older with chronic congestive heart failure or chronic renal disease and their surrogate decision-makers. INTERVENTION: Trained health professionals conducted a structured, patient-centered interview intended to promote informed decision-making and to result in the completion of a document clarifying the goals of the patient with regard to four disease-specific health outcome situations and the degree of decision-making latitude granted to the surrogate. MEASUREMENTS: Surrogate understanding of patient goals for care with regard to four expected, disease-specific outcomes situations and of the degree of surrogate latitude in decision-making. RESULTS: Three hundred thirteen patient-surrogate pairs completed the study. As measured according to kappa scores and in all four situations and in the degree of latitude, intervention group surrogates demonstrated a significantly higher degree of understanding of patient goals than control group surrogates. Intervention group kappa scores ranged from 0.61 to 0.78, whereas control group kappa scores ranged from 0.07 to 0.28. CONCLUSION: Surrogates in the intervention group had a significantly better understanding of patient goals and preferences than surrogates in the control group. This finding is the first step toward ensuring that patient goals for care are known and honored.

Peer review for advanced practice nurses: what does it really mean?

Peer review has multiple manifestations and purposes. Two stated purposes are the demonstration of professionalism and clinical competency. The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing peer-review as a process for evaluating the care provided by an individual according to accepted standards. Further, the ANA proposes that nurses with similar rank and clinical expertise should conduct these evaluations. Some local jurisdictions may also mandate that advanced practice nurses (APNs) review one another's care. Therefore, APNs should become familiar with sources for evaluation criteria and tool formats for APN peer review. The advantages and limitations of the various formats and processes of peer review should also be considered.

Using the stages of change model to improve communication about advance care planning.

TOPIC: Advance care planning (ACP) is a term intended to describe the dynamic process of discussing wishes for future medical care. PURPOSE: To demonstrate how a behavior change model can be used to enhance ACP. SOURCES: Authors' personal experience, workshops, literature review. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating behavioral change theory helps develop workable interventions and provides strategies for nurses to approach patients appropriately about planning for future medical care.

Patient-centered advance care planning in special patient populations: a pilot study.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a patient-centered advance care planning (PC-ACP) approach to patients with chronic illnesses and their surrogates with respect to promotion of shared decision-making outcomes-congruence between patient and surrogate, patient's decisional conflict, and knowledge of advance care planning. An experimental design was used. The settings were the heart failure, renal dialysis, and cardiovascular surgery clinics at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Twenty-seven patient-surrogate pairs participated. A 1-hour PC-ACP interview was provided to the experimental group. Only usual care was delivered to participants in the control group. Comparison of the composite scores of a Statement of Treatment Preferences indicated that congruence in decision-making for future medical treatment in patient-surrogate pairs in the treatment group was significantly higher than in the control group. Greater satisfaction with the decision-making process and less decisional conflict were demonstrated in the treatment group. The PC-ACP interview can be effective in promoting shared decision-making between patients and their surrogates and in producing greater satisfaction with the process of decision-making and less decisional conflict.