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Below are recent articles from
South Carolina Nurse, the official publication of the South Carolina Nurses Association.
In 2023, the CDC reported that the most common types of adverse drug events are associated with allergic reactions, side effects, over-medication, medication errors, and drug–drug interactions. Healthcare advances in new drug development, older medications with newer indications for use, an aging population, and the expansion of prescription drug coverage may lead to an increase in these events. When nurses understand what determines evidence, how to implement guidelines as standard of care, and what establishes best practices to optimize medication safety, they can help prevent medication errors.
Living donor liver transplant has helped overcome the global shortage of donor organs. Live liver donors who electively undergo major abdominal surgery require specific care and expertise to ensure their safety. In the outpatient transplant clinic, transplant coordinators provide education, obtain consent, and organize the care of potential transplant recipients and living donors. As essential members of the transplant team, these coordinators use their extensive knowledge and experience to guide patients through evaluations. They provide psychological, medical, and logistical support during the stressful transplant process.
Syncope can result from several conditions, including electrolyte imbalance, hypothyroidism, myocarditis, acute coronary syndrome, and electrical disturbances in the heart.
ETCO2 monitoring, a tool once used almost exclusively in patients receiving anesthesia, has proven useful in various settings, including the emergency department, medical–surgical units, critical care, ambulatory care, critical care transport, and postoperative suites. Longstanding evidence shows the importance of ETCO2 monitoring in many clinical situations, including intubation, CPR, and sedation. It provides healthcare professionals with real-time data to make clinical decisions that support patient safety and optimal outcomes, while minimizing the need for additional invasive procedures.
