Cynthia R. King

Excellence through evidence: securing collegial/collaborative nurse-physician relationships, part 2.

Multiple nurse-physician (RNMD) relationships coexist on hospital units; collegial and collaborative (C/C) relationships positively impact, more than others, patient outcomes. The goal of this multisite evidence-based management practice initiative was to identify structures that enable C/C RNMD relationships. In part 1, the authors discuss the methodology and selection of the sample of 141 physicians, managers, and staff nurses from 44 clinical units in 5 hospitals that had previously demonstrated extensive C/C RNMD relationships. These 141 experts were interviewed to identify structures enabling C/C RNMD relationships. Part 1 presents the structures that enable C/C RNMD relationships as described and tested in the literature, as well as a description of the characteristics of the clinical units, experts, and C/C RNMD relationships found in this study. In part 2, the structures identified by the experts as needed for securing C/C RNMD relationships will be presented, along with suggestions for attainment.

Symptom Distress, Spirituality, and Quality of Life in African American Breast Cancer Survivors

This study examined the relationships among the demographic characteristics, symptom distress, spirituality, and quality of life (QOL) of African American breast cancer survivors. A convenience sample of 30 survivors with a mean age of 56 years and a mean survival of 6 years was recruited from African American breast cancer support groups and churches in the Southeastern United States. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a demographic questionnaire, the Quality of Life Index-Cancer Version, the Symptom Distress Scale, and the Spiritual Perspective Scale. Statistically significant relationships were found between symptoms and QOL (r = −0.62, P < .05) and between spirituality and QOL (r = 0.70, P < .05). No statistically significant relationships were found between age at diagnosis, income, or education and QOL. This research suggests that symptoms and spirituality are associated with QOL. Culturally appropriate care should be provided to these women to reduce health disparities and to improve their QOL.

Advances in How Clinical Nurses Can Evaluate and Improve Quality of Life for Individuals With Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe advances in the ways that clinical nurses understand, assess, and work to improve quality of life (QOL) for individuals with cancer since the 1995 Oncology Nursing Societys State-of-the-Knowledge Conference on QOL. DATA SOURCES Published research and clinical articles. DATA SYNTHESIS The number of QOL assessment tools and methods for understanding QOL results has increased. However, scant literature has focused on how clinical oncology nurses evaluate QOL and the methods they use to affect QOL for individuals with cancer. CONCLUSIONS Based on the nurse-patient relationship, clinical nurses are able to assess QOL in individuals with cancer and intervene appropriately to improve QOL. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Clinical nurses can involve individuals with cancer in rating their QOL to assist in providing high-quality care that is directed at positively affecting QOL.

Avinza® (Morphine Sulfate Extended-Release Capsules)

At the time this article was written, Cynthia R. King, PhD, NP, RN, FAAN, was an associate director for Ligand Pharmaceuticals in San Diego, CA. Ligand Pharmaceuticals is the manufacturer of Avinza ®, the drug described in this article. Ashkan Khabazian, PharmD, is a pharmacy practice resident for Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, CA. (Mention of specific products and opinions related to those products do not indicate or imply endorsement by the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing or the Oncology Nursing Society.)

The bane of accurate referencing: how to achieve "perfection".

Keightley Amen, BA, is a copy editor on the Periodicals Publishing Team at the Oncology Nursing Society in Pittsburgh, PA; Cynthia R. King, PhD, NP, MSN, RN, FAAN, is the program director for nursing research and an assistant professor of public health sciences at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC; and Paula T. Rieger, RN, MSN, CS, AOCN, FAAN, is the director of international affairs at the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Alexandria, VA. (The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not refl ect the offi cial policy or position of the Oncology Nursing Society.)