Past Issue: March 2010 Vol. 14, No. 3
Clinical Challenges In…
For the past 22 years, I have written an annual report that summarizes nurse practitioner legislation in each state. This annual report includes a review of pertinent state legislation and of rules and regulations that affect NPs, along with pertinent government, policy, and reimbursement information.… Read More
Lyme disease is an infection caused primarily by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by the bite of a tick of the species Ixodes scapularis or Ixodes pacificus. The incubation period from infection to the onset of early signs and symptoms (S/S) ranges from 3 to 32 days. Lyme disease… Read More
Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. One in two smokers will die of smoking-related problems. Most smokers understand the health risks associated with tobacco use and want to stop, but the addictive nature of nicotine makes quitting difficult.… Read More
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) disproportionately affects African Americans (AAs) compared with other ethnic groups, yet little is known about AAs’ awareness of their heightened risk of developing CKD. This study assessed a group of high-risk AAs’ level of knowledge about the signs/symptoms and risk… Read More
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare, aggressive, and highly lethal form of breast cancer. Early diagnosis may provide patients with sufficient time to obtain effective treatment, but such a scenario is not typical. IBC is often misdiagnosed as an inflammatory condition such as acute mastitis or… Read More
Other Features
Unity is Just Good Business
Since it is customary for nurse practitioners (NPs) to encourage each other in the workplace,
... Read MoreFrom the Editorial Co-Directors
Dear Colleagues,
This month, The Pearson Report makes its debut on www.webNPonline.com. The NP Communications website will feature the report in its entirety, including the overview, boxes, tables, maps, and individual state reports. Subscribers to The American Journal for Nurse Practitioners online will have full access to The Pearson Report all year. In addition, AJNP subscribers will have access to articles and features not available in the print version of the journal.
We are excited about our new online presence. As we transition to this new venue, we ask you, our loyal readers, for your feedback so that we can maintain the high quality of the journal and continue to respond to your needs as practicing clinicians. Please keep us apprised of your practice- and education-related concerns. We value our readers, authors, and peer reviewers as we strive to meet the needs of nurse practitioners across the nation.
The articles in the print version of AJNP March 2010 cover a myriad of useful practice concerns. “Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease,” by Diana Jin and Elizabeth Anderson, gets us ready for spring and outdoor activities. An evidence-based review of the literature is presented in “Smoking Cessation: Counseling or No Counseling?” by Shelia Kardeen, Kristine Smith, and Kathleen Thornton. Rising statistics about chronic kidney disease are highlighted in our second patient education-related article entitled “Kidney Disease Awareness Among High-risk African Americans,” by Rosalind M. Peters and Karen L. Olsen. A must-read is “Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Rare, Aggressive, and Lethal,” by Virginia G. Miller, which deals with a rare but deadly form of cancer. The issue also contains Mary Ann E. Zagaria’s Issues in Pharmacotherapy column, in which she discusses inhalant agents for asthma, bronchospasm, and COPD.
When you log on to www.webNPonline.com in March, you will find a brand-new article by Susan Riley: “Medicare Part D: Helping or Hurting Our Seniors?” You can also find January’s feature article by Ying Mai Kung, “Resistance to Antiviral Agents in the Treatment and Prevention of Influenza: Impact on the 2009-2010 Influenza Season,” and February’s feature article by Patricia D. Abbott and Brenda Zierler, “Crisis in Emergency Departments: The Nurse Practitioner Role.” Happy reading!
 Charlene M. Hanson EdD, FNP-BC, FAAN |
 Donna R. Hodnicki PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN |