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Below are recent articles from
Colorado Nurse, the official publication of the Colorado Nurses Association.
In January my daughter, Dorothy Barrow, gave me an article to read about the National Nurse Honor Guard Coalition and told me that since I was 10+ years retired, I needed to start a chapter in the Denver metro area. After reading it I knew I had to start a group here.
A 35-year-old man arrives at the ED with severe weakness, diarrhea, nausea, hypotension, and tachycardia, which began after he finished a 100-mile race the previous day. Urinalysis indicates the presence of protein, blood, and an elevated specific gravity. The patient’s medications include citalopram for depression and ibuprofen for a recent knee injury. The patient says, “I’ve been taking more ibuprofen than I normally do, and I wish I’d stopped at more drink stations during the race.”
Delays in seeking treatment frequently lead to poor health outcomes. Especially with regard to symptoms associated with cancer, early detection and treatment can improve survival rates and quality of life. Several factors can influence delayed treatment. Understanding why patients may delay seeking care can help nurses engage with, educate, and advocate for patients so they can make informed healthcare decisions.
A physician authorizes medical cannabis for an 18-year-old student who lives in a college dorm in a state where cannabis is legal for recreational use by anyone over 21 and also by minors with guardian approval. However, campus policy prohibits the use and storage of cannabis. College health center staff tell the student that his parents will need to store the cannabis and take him off campus to use it. The student’s family struggles to respond as their child ponders the risk of engaging in activities deemed legal in one context but illegal in another.
Why are new HIV cases still occurring when we have preventive treatment? One reason could be a lack of knowledge and experience among healthcare professionals to discuss, prescribe, and manage PrEP for vulnerable patients. Lack of information and discomfort with prescribing PrEP remain ongoing issues among healthcare professionals in the United States. Healthcare professionals should know how to identify appropriate candidates for PrEP, provide general education, and prescribe necessary preventive treatment.
