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Objective: A virtual mental well-being initiative was developed for nurse leaders to provide education about mental health and to teach self-care skills., Background: Because of substantial demand placed on nurse leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations must address stress and burnout by providing a continuum of care to include education, support, and intervention., Methods: All levels of nurse leaders at a multicampus healthcare system were invited to attend. Data were collected on coping, empowerment, burnout, and quality of life. Participant responses to discussion prompts were compiled and reviewed., Results: Although the independent parallel comparison did not show significant improvements, scores on the coping, empowerment, burnout, and quality-of-life measures were maintained. Discussion prompts yielded valuable insights into nurse leader experiences and session effectiveness., Conclusions: This type of education, as well as psychological support, will continue to be needed after the pandemic due to burnout, moral injury, and primary or secondary trauma. Findings are applicable to future crisis situations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the association between religion/spirituality (r/s) and mental health outcomes in hospital-based nursing staff., Background: The relationship between r/s and health has been studied extensively. Most frequently, r/s has been studied in association with mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and distress among patients. However, hospital-based nurses suffer from the mental health effects of working in high-stress work environments. To date, little research has focused on the relationship between r/s and mental health outcomes in nurses., Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 207 nurses from 6 community hospitals., Results: Approximately half of the nurses sampled identified as religious, whereas nearly 75% identified as spiritual. There were significant associations between measures of r/s and mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and mental well-being., Conclusions: This whole-person assessment of nurses may inform future retention and engagement strategies focused on faith-based interventions., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The vertical forced vergence fixation disparity (VFD) curve represents the amount of vertical fixation disparity, the steady-state vertical bifixation error of the eyes, at various levels of vertical vergence demand. The main aim of the present study was to examine the effects of vertical vergence training on the slope of the VFD curve in a normal, young adult population., Methods: Forty-five subjects with normal vision and binocular function underwent vertical vergence training for 1 week. The training was done using a vertical prism bar, and the vertical fixation disparity was measured using the Disparometer., Results: The mean slope of the VFD curve in a normal, young adult population was 1.103 min arc/delta. The slope of the VFD curve decreased significantly after the training and remained flattened for at least 3 months. There was no evidence to support the idea that the decrease in the VFD slope was related to the increase of vertical fusional amplitude., Conclusions: Vertical prism bar training provided a long-term effect, both increasing the vertical fusional amplitude and flattening the slope of the VFD curve. The decrease in the slope of the VFD curve was thought to be independent of the increase of vertical fusional amplitude.

We present a computer simulation of a two-compartment model of the systemic circulation which demonstrates how this model can be used to understand the mechanism(s) for the maximal exercise cardiac output (Q). The model consists of two parallel vascular channels, the splanchnic channel (all blood draining through the hepatic veins) and the peripheral channel (all other vascular beds). The distinguishing characteristic of each channel is the product of its venous compliance and venous resistance. Model parameters for the human circulation were estimated from similar parameters obtained directly from animal experiments. "Exercise" was achieved by decreasing the compliance of both channels to 40% of their initial value and by redistributing the Q such that the fraction of Q perfusing the splanchnic channel fell from 38 to 5%, while that perfusing the peripheral channel (skeletal muscles) increased from 62 to 95%. These combined changes increased Q from 4.4 to 22.0 l X min-1 and suggest that maximal adjustments of the two-compartment model parameters lead to a prediction of a maximal Q that approaches the maximal Q usually obtained by humans during exercise.

The pneumatic antishock garment is widely used in trauma patients because it compresses small veins and should augment venous return. If the garment does augment venous return, it should probably be used in all injured patients in shock, regardless of injuries and regardless of anticipated transport time. On the other hand, the garment could distort and narrow large retroperitoneal and abdominal veins and impede venous return. We quantitated venous return in normovolemic and hypovolemic baboons. The garment both augmented and impeded venous return, the two effects counteracting each other. We believe that the pneumatic antishock garment should be used selectively.