Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing eNewsletter
June 2009  
Greetings!

Welcome to the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing's June 2009 eNewsletter featuring articles, reference materials, useful links, calendar of events and other best practice information on the care of older adults.

This eNewsletter is sponsored by ConsultGeriRN.org.

ConsultGeriRN.org is the authoritative geriatric clinical nursing website of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, New York University College of Nursing and the NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) program, (www.nicheprogram.org). ConsultGeriRN.org contains evidence-based protocols and topics for nurses and other healthcare professionals on the care of older adults. Content is updated regularly.

We would like to hear from you!

If you have a geriatric-related story, topic or an event you would like featured in our newsletter, please send your request to editor@consultgerirn.org.
 

June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day!

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day involves activities to bring greater recognition of mistreatment of older adults wherever they live throughout the world and to highlight the need for appropriate action. It is intended to give abuse and neglect of older adults a global relevance that will sustain and move prevention efforts forward throughout the whole year and years to come.
Read more about World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Terry Fulmer, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN NYU CON Dean and Erline Perkins McGriff Professor In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Hartford Institute would like to highlight the Hartford Institute hosted Elder Mistreatment Course. Authored by NYU College of Nursing's Dean Terry Fulmer, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, the course was recently updated in 2009!

"Health professionals and allied health workers need to know and recognize the clinical indicators of elder mistreatment (EM) and need to know what actions to take if they suspect EM. However, many healthcare professionals are not aware that EM even exists, and few are actually trained to screen and assess for EM. Understanding cultural competency is essential to any EM training. Different cultures perceive aging and care-giving differently and this has important implications for the way EM is viewed, assessed and treated."
View the Elder Mistreatment Course
 

Announcing Hartford Institute Forums!

Hartford Institute Forums The Hartford Institute is pleased to announce the creation of the Hartford Institute Forums, and we'd like to invite YOU to join our new community! Have questions or thoughts you'd like to discuss concerning geriatrics and nursing? Then this is the place for you!

To join, simply visit forums.hartfordign.org, and click the 'Register' link:
Hartford Institute Forums - Registration Link
Upon completion of the registration process, an email will be sent to your email address; you will need to click on the provided link to activate your account. We hope to see you online soon!
Visit the Hartford Institute Forums
 

Do You Know Enough About Iatrogenesis and Older Adults?

Iatrogenesis is a very common, often preventable, hazard of hospitalization and is associated with significantly longer hospital stays, increased patient mortality and cost. In spite of early recognition of the problem and better care and prophylaxis of iatrogenic complications, little progress has been made and the rate of preventable adverse events remains alarmingly high.

The most common iatrogenic events result from:
  • Adverse reactions to medications
  • Adverse reactions to diagnostic, therapeutic and prophylactic procedures
  • Nosocomial conditions such as hospital-acquired infections, delirium, deconditioning, malnutrition, fecal impaction, incontinence and pressure ulcers
Learn more about "Iatrogenesis" with references and resources by visiting ConsultGeriRN.org.
 

How to Try This:® Series

Brief Evaluation of Executive Dysfunction

Topic Resources:
Brief Evaluation of Executive Dysfunction

View Article        View Video

Videos can be watched in their entire format, or in chapters that relate to the specific assessment skills described above. Continuing education hours are also offered.
View more information about the series and topics covered.
Studies suggest that executive cognitive dysfunction can more reliably predict loss of autonomy than memory impairment can. Executive cognitive function allows for abstract thought, the planning and taking of actions toward a goal, and adaptation to the unexpected. And because executive function and memory operate in distinct regions of the brain, executive dysfunction can occur even when memory isn't impaired. The detection of executive dysfunction is essential to helping a patient remain as safe and independent as possible.

The How to Try This:® series is funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation to the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University's College of Nursing in collaboration with the American Journal of Nursing (AJN). This initiative translates the evidence-based geriatric assessment tools in the Try This Assessment Series into cost-free, web-based print and video resources, for caring for older adults. This series can be viewed, downloaded, and shared without any fees. Articles may be printed and copied for educational use without copyright fees. View more information
 

NICHE Web Based Learning Series Presents:

"The Never Event Series: The Experts Respond"

NICHE: Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders Beginning October 2008 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) in effort to improve the quality of care for patients and reduce costs of care, stopped paying for several hospital acquired conditions (HAC) including pressure ulcers, catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), and falls related injuries. These so called "Never Events" are labeled such because they are considered events that should never happen. While it is virtually impossible to totally eliminate these conditions - hospitals can implement programs and utilize evidence based best practices to reduce their occurrences.

The Never Events Series: Focus on CAUTI PREVENTION

Hospitals use indwelling urinary catheters more than almost any other medical device. They result in over 500,000 catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) annually, a full 40% of nosocomial infections. Older patients are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of CAUTIs including increased antibiotic use, prolonged hospitalizations, downstream infections, and death. In addition, urinary catheters are independently associated with delirium and thought to be linked to decreased mobility in the hospital.

Following a review of the latest national guidelines and updated CAUTI definitions, Dr.Heidi Wald, a leader geriatric care, will host a detailed discussion of prevention strategies for CAUTI, summarize her research findings, and describe an exciting multi-site project to address catheter use and CAUTIs at NICHE hospitals.

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EST
Dr. Heidi Wald, MD, MSPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver

NICHE Sites: $89 per phone line Non-NICHE Sites: $99 per phone line
  • PowerPoint presentations accompany each audio conference
  • Live Q&A session with the presenter
  • Participants join a live web based presentation
  • Participants earn 1.0 Contact Hours
Click for more information.

The NICHE program was developed by the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU College of Nursing to help hospitals make systemic changes in the way they care for older adults. Over 200 hospitals nationally have benefited by integrating NICHE into their facility.

Link to ConsultGeriRN.org!
hartfordign.org nicheprogram.org consultgerirn.org
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