Best, worst depictions of nurses in media are named
The nonprofit group Truth About Nursing listed “Nurse Jackie” and “Mercy” as two of the best media portrayals of nurses, saying the shows illustrate nurses’ efforts to provide quality patient care. “Grey’s Anatomy” and “House” were cited as some of the worst nurse portrayals because the shows depict nurses as “irrelevant to serious care,” the group said. Nurse.com

Community hospitals should focus on 6 key areas in 2011
Community hospitals this year should focus on reducing readmissions and developing a strong compliance plan for admissions screening to avoid Recovery Audit Contractor reimbursement refusals. Also on the list of top initiatives are joining a group purchasing organization, hiring hospitalists and getting an electronic health records system in place. HealthLeaders Media

Nurses are key players in promoting drug adherence
Studies show that patients are more willing to take their prescribed drugs when nurses personally remind and educate them about their medication. A clinical nursing educator said that trust and the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship are key to improving patients’ drug adherence. NurseZone.com

Diet change might not curb children’s asthma, allergy risk
A meta-analysis found many studies linked a healthy diet in women during pregnancy — including consumption of fruits, vegetables and foods rich in vitamins D, A and E — to a lower risk of asthma and allergies in their children. But an expert stressed the findings “are not sufficient to suggest that any specific changes in diet will affect allergy or asthma risk, either increasing or decreasing it.” Reuters

Nurses Lead Green Healthcare Changes
Last evening I attended Best of CleanMed 2010 at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, PA. The event was sponsored by Delaware Valley Green Building Council’s Health Care Circle, and brought together over 100…»