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Oncology nurse residents write legacy letters to future cohorts in the 11th month as a reflection on their transition year, focusing on lessons learned and advice gleaned. This article explores poetry as an alternative to leg.

Poor sleep during hospitalization can negatively affect patient health, well-being, and satisfaction. This nurse-led quality improvement project aimed to promote quality sleep on an inpatient telemetry medical-surgical onco.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) places a burden on patients receiving blood and marrow transplantation. The effects of complementary aromatherapy on CINV are documented, but more information is needed to implement practice changes., Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate whether pure peppermint or ginger essential oil reduced the severity of CINV., Methods: A controlled randomized pilot study was conducted using peppermint oil, ginger oil, and control (canola oil) groups. Nurses applied the assigned oil every four hours. Outcome and patient feedback data were collected., Findings: Twenty patients experienced a level 2 or greater nausea event. Patients in the peppermint oil group were the least likely to experience a nausea event, followed by the ginger oil and control groups. Five patients experienced level 2 vomiting; these events did not differ between groups.

Background: Family support and patient outcomes are linked to nurses' attitudes toward families' importance in patient care., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to characterize inpatient oncology nurses' attitudes toward families' importance in nursing care and determine characteristics related to these attitudes., Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used with a single set of measurements from inpatient oncology nurses at a comprehensive cancer center in the southeastern United States. Nurse characteristics were summarized using frequency and percentages. Time variables were summarized using median and interquartile range. There were five primary outcomes., Findings: Nurses considered the role of the family important, but level varied by FINC-NA item. Characteristics related to family importance overall included hospital unit and general approach to care.

Background: Falls experienced by patients undergoing blood and marrow transplantation or treatment with cellular immunotherapy (BMT-CI) may result in injury or death. An algorithm was developed using the patient fall circumstances identified in a chart analysis from 2016., Objectives: This study aimed to determine if the Moffitt BMT-CI Orthostatic Vital Signs Algorithm could decrease inpatient falls., Methods: A pre-/post-test program evaluation was conducted for one year pre- and postimplementation of the algorithm on newly admitted inpatients. Adherence rate of nurses using the algorithm was monitored., Findings: Overall falls decreased from 5.38% to 3.44%, with zero falls or injuries related to orthostasis for newly admitted patients. Adherence of nurses using the algorithm increased from 60% to 93%. The fall rate has been sustained less than baseline with 100% adherence, and the algorithm has been adopted as standard of practice.

Background: Height measurement is a key clinical component to measure body mass index and body surface area used for patient care, including calculating chemotherapy doses. Some patients cannot feasibly or safely stand for height measurement because of a number of diseases and disabilities. The literature is unclear regarding alternatives to standing height for patients unable to stand., Objectives: The purpose of this research study was to test equivalence of a number of measurements to find a reliable alternative to standing height for ambulatory oncology clinic patients who are unable to or cannot safely stand., Methods: A repeated-measures design was used to measure the height of 60 volunteer adult participants using a convenience sample of 30 men and 30 women. Standing height was compared to self-reported height, recumbent length, arm span, half-arm span, demispan, and knee height measurements., Findings: Results indicated that demispan was equivalent to standing height with a mean difference of -0.69. A practice change to use demispan in patients who cannot stand has been proposed and accepted at the authors' organization. The use of demispan was a feasible alternative to standing height in cost of supply and technique.

Background: Patients undergoing blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) use a central venous catheter (CVC); heparin is often employed to maintain patency but may increase the risk of complications. Research has not provided conclusive differences in efficacy and safety regarding heparin flushing versus normal saline flushing in CVC maintenance. Minimal research is specific to this patient population., Objectives: This study aimed to determine if differences exist in CVC patency, tissue plasminogen activator usage, and the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infections when flushing with normal saline only versus heparin and normal saline among patients undergoing BMT., Methods: A convenience sample of 30 patients undergoing allogeneic or autologous transplantation with a new non-port/non-peripherally inserted CVC were evaluated., Findings: Elimination of routine heparin use could positively affect outcomes in this patient population.

Background: Duffy's Quality-Caring Model guides nursing practice at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, FL. No published studies using this model in oncology were found., Objectives: The purpose of this article is to determine patients' perceptions of nurse caring behaviors at the time of discharge after surgery., Methods: A descriptive correlational design was used. Data were collected using Duffy's Caring Assessment Tool (CAT). Simple regression analyses were performed., Findings: Spearman's correlation coefficients between the scores and age, length of stay, and number of nurses caring for the patients were not significant. No significant association was found between surgical site and CAT scores, nor between gender, race, and disposition posthospitalization. Appreciation of unique meanings and mutual problem solving showed need for improvement.

Background: Neutropenic patients often become febrile and require frequent temperature monitoring. Monitoring core body temperature is considered the gold standard for accuracy. Taking oral temperature is the recommended noninvasive practice when core body temperature cannot be obtained; however, neutropenic patients often, for various reasons, are unable to tolerate an oral probe., Objectives: The purpose of this article is to determine the equivalence of temperatures taken via temporal artery, axillary, and oral methods, and to determine the best alternative to the oral method in the adult hematology/oncology population., Methods: A repeated measures equivalence design was used. A convenience sample of 40 data sets (N = 33 inpatients) was tested on a hematology/oncology inpatient unit in a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the southeastern United States. A Latin squares design was employed with three possible sequences of measurement. Demographic data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and equivalence was tested using the two one-sided tests method. Acceptance criterion for difference between methods was set at 0.2°F from the oral method., Findings: The temporal method is a potential noninvasive alternative to the oral method for the adult hematology/oncology population.

Experienced oncology nurses use different troubleshooting techniques for clearing occluded central venous access devices (CVADs) with varying degrees of success. The purpose of this study was to explore troubleshooting techniques used for clearing occluded CVADs by experienced oncology RNs and identify the perceived effectiveness of each technique. An invitation for a web-based survey was sent to select RN members of the Oncology Nursing Society. All nurses (N = 224) reported asking patients to raise and/or move their arm. Most nurses asked patients to lie down, cough, and take deep breaths. Respondents considered instilling a thrombolytic agent to be the most effective technique. No associations were found between techniques and respondents' years in oncology nursing, work setting, certification, or academic degree. The findings contribute to knowledge about care of patients with occluded devices and will help formulate direction for additional investigation of CVADs. Establishing the appropriateness of practice-related troubleshooting techniques may eliminate unnecessary steps and save nursing time. Educating nurses on the topic will also help reduce techniques that are not expected to yield results or are contraindicated.