BUILDING THE FOUNDATION OF EXCELLENCE IN HEART FAILURE NURSING

This column contains the presidential address presented during the Third Annual Meeting of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses on June 28, 2007, in San Diego, California, titled "Building the Foundation of Excellence in Heart Failure Nursing."     

Practitioner care and screening guidelines for infants born to chlamydia-positive mothers

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent sexually transmitted microbial infection in the United States. The CDC estimates that 3 million people are infected annually, with approximately 50% of infected men and 75% of infected women having few or no recognized symptoms. C. trachomatis is frequently transferred from mother to infant, and the maternal-infant transfer of this disease may have negative consequences for the newborn, such as prematurity, pneumonia, and conjunctivitis. Ocular prophylaxis with silver nitrate and or antibiotics is ineffective in preventing neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis. By increasing awareness of the potential adverse consequences, initiating screening and treatment of pregnant women, and advocating for newborn assessment and treatment, nurses can enhance the quality of care for mothers and their infants.     

Medication compliance in elderly people: influencing variables and interventions

This paper describes a study in which 70 elderly patients were assessed for risk factors in their medication regimen They were separated into three study groups, including two levels of teaching intervention focused on the home medication administration system, and a control group The intervention utilizing a follow-up telephone call demonstrated a significant change in risk-related behaviours such as verbalization of the regimen, congruence between instructions and usage of medications, and taking of medicines not currently prescribed or over-the-counter