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Marijuana's Schedule I classification remains an obstacle., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Febrile neutropenia is a serious complication of chemotherapy treatment and may present as the only clinical sign of infection. If not addressed in a timely manner, it may progress to multisystem organ failure and may be fatal. Initial assessment of fever in those receiving chemotherapy requires prompt administration of antibiotics, ideally within one hour of presentation. Depending on the clinical status of the patient, antibiotic treatment may occur in the inpatient or outpatient setting. Nurses play an important role in the identification and treatment of patients at high risk for febrile neutropenia through assessment and adherence to clinical practice guidelines. In addition, nurses play an active role in patient education regarding risk factors, protective measures, and signs and symptoms of infection in the immunocompromised oncology patient., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Writing for publication in peer-reviewed journals is one of the most important types of writing that nurses engage in. It is essential for advancing the nursing profession, health care organizations, and individual nurses. Despite its importance, however, the rate of publication remains very low among nurses. At one large academic medical center, a baseline assessment of dissemination practices found a low publication rate. To address this, an evidence-based writing-for-publication program was designed to support professional dissemination of scholarly work., Methods: A 12-week workshop was designed and writers were matched with a mentor. The workshop started with a four-hour kickoff session on the process of getting published, including choosing a journal, querying an editor, drafting a manuscript, and working with coauthors. Participants also began developing an outline for their manuscript. Drafts were due to the mentor every four weeks for editing and feedback. At the end of the 12 weeks a wrap-up session was held for participants to read each other's manuscripts and give peer feedback., Outcomes: As of this writing, five cohorts have completed the program, and 89 nurses participated. Twenty-nine manuscripts were completed and submitted to peer-reviewed journals; of these, 22 (76%) were accepted, four (14%) are still under review, and three (10%) were recommended for submission to a different journal. Among the 89 nurse participants, 84% reported being likely or very likely to write for publication again, and 96% reported improvement in their writing skills., Conclusions: Without more nurses acquiring the skills to engage in writing for publication, the body of advancing knowledge that drives clinical decision-making may wane as aging, experienced nurse authors leave the profession. To protect the future of nursing, a continuous commitment to developing nurse authors across all generations is necessary. Nursing leaders and health care organizations must commit to ensuring novice nurse authors are provided with the resources to engage in disseminating knowledge.

: Breast cancer patients are living longer with the disease than ever before. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 3 million women in the United States are currently living with a breast cancer diagnosis, and many seek care in nononcology settings, whether for treatment, acute symptoms and complaints related to their cancer diagnosis, or unrelated concerns. Yet many nononcology providers are unfamiliar with the various oral agents used to treat breast cancer, and their possible adverse effects and drug interactions. It is imperative that all providers be aware of these agents and know when a patient is currently taking or has taken them. This article provides an overview of the most common oral treatments for breast cancer and discusses common adverse effects and management.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2014 nearly 16,000 U.S. children and adolescents developed cancer, and in roughly 1,200 of these cases the cancer was Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). The great majority of these patients will survive, joining the thousands who have been diagnosed and treated successfully in decades past. Nurses' familiarity with and attention to the late effects of the chemotherapy and radiation therapy used to treat HL, which include breast cancer as well as cardiotoxicity and its sequelae, are essential in helping these patients maintain their overall health.