Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
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J Am Assoc Nurse Pract · Nov 2017
The role of nurse practitioners in delivering rheumatology care and services: Results of a U.S. survey.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, pain, joint stiffness, and progressive joint destruction. An increased demand for rheumatology healthcare professionals is anticipated in coming years; utilizing more nurse practitioners (NPs) in rheumatology may help meet this demand, and improve early detection and diagnosis of RA. ⋯ NPs in primary care can fill a resource gap and provide access to health care for patients with RA.
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J Am Assoc Nurse Pract · Nov 2017
The pathophysiology, incidence, impact, and treatment of opioid-induced nausea and vomiting.
Opioid medications are integral in managing acute moderate-to-severe pain. Opioid analgesics bind to μ (mu), κ (kappa), or δ (delta) opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and digestive tract. However, opioids cause adverse effects that may interfere with their therapeutic use. Some adverse effects wane over time, but patients using opioids for acute pain struggle with opioid-induced nausea and vomiting (OINV) the entire time they take the opioid. This article discusses the underlying mechanisms, clinical implications, and treatment strategies of OINV. ⋯ There are several medications that can be used to treat OINV including serotonin receptor antagonists, dopamine receptor antagonists, and neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists. Healthcare providers should be proactive about discussing OINV with patients, as this may improve patient outcomes and pain relief.
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J Am Assoc Nurse Pract · Oct 2017
Use of spiritual coping strategies by gender, race/ethnicity, and religion at 1 and 3 months after infant's/child's intensive care unit death.
In the United States, 57,000 children (newborn to 18 years) die annually. Bereaved parents may rely on religious or spiritual beliefs in their grief. The study's purpose was to examine differences in parents' use of spiritual and religious coping practices by gender, race/ethnicity, and religion at 1 and 3 months after infant/ICU death. ⋯ These findings are beneficial for healthcare personnel in providing support to bereaved parents of diverse races/ethnicities and religions.
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J Am Assoc Nurse Pract · Feb 2017
ReviewState of the evidence: Cannabinoids and cancer pain-A systematic review.
Cannabinoids are widely used to alleviate intractable symptoms such as pain, nausea, and muscle spasticity. The purpose of this review was to ascertain the current state of the science regarding use of cannabinoids for cancer pain. ⋯ There is evidence that cannabinoids are effective adjuvants for cancer pain not completely relieved by opioid therapy, but there is a dearth of high-quality studies to support a stronger conclusion. Cannabinoids appear to be safe in low and medium doses. Methodological limitations of the trials limited the ability to make sound conclusions. Further research is warranted before efficacy, safety, and utility of cannabinoids for cancer pain can be determined.
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J Am Assoc Nurse Pract · Aug 2016
Primary care experiences of people who live with chronic pain and receive opioids to manage pain: A qualitative methodology.
The prevalence of chronic pain continues to rise and the majority of patients with chronic pain are managed in primary care. The purpose of this research was to provide the perspectives of patients who live with chronic pain and receive opioids to help manage their pain from primary care. ⋯ Providing patient-centered care while managing patients with pain and unknown risk for prescription opioid misuse is possible. Understanding influences that create prescription opioid risk for misuse can help nurse practitioners improve their delivery of care by providing consistent and convenient healthcare encounters, and help patients protect themselves from risk of prescription opioid misuse.