CONDUCTING NURSING RESEARCH
By Cynthia Gallagher, BSN, RN

During a regular day on a nursing unit, the critical care nurse may ask the question, “Why do we have to change central line dressings everyday and not every 72 hours? or “why do we have to keep the head of the bed up 30 degrees when the patient is intubated?” These types of questions are asked everyday and are at the heart of conducting evidence-based nursing research...... CONT'D

END-OF-LIFE CARE: ARE NURSES EDUCATIONALLY PREPARED?
By Lisa Marie Chiplaskey, MSN, Ed., BSN

This study identifies that nurses are educationally unprepared to offer quality end-of-life care to patients and families. Exploration into end-of-life care issues is examined utilizing a historical context. Focus areas for improvement in today's education of nurses have been identified as spiritual-psychosocial health areas and physical health areas...... CONT'D

CONFLICT RESOLUTION – TOOLS FOR NURSING
By Antonie Hiemer MS RN

Abstract

The nursing profession is one that is based on collaborative relationships with both colleagues and patients. It requires individuals to work closely with others with varying backgrounds or cultures. Individuals can hold diverse values, potentially affecting these relationships, which may result in conflict. Good communication or conflict resolution skills can decrease the risk of conflict...... CONT'D

Alzheimer’s
THE STRANGER IN THE MIRROR
By Brenda Fountain, BSN, RN

As a nurse, I have always found it difficult and frustrating to understand the needs of a person with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive degenerative brain disease first discovered in 1906 by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German physician. His autopsy of a patient’s brain indicated abnormal amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles on the brain. .... CONT'D