4.21
Michele W. Berger
Senior Science News Officer
mwberger@upenn.edu
Nursing
Return to work and the path to recovery after serious injury in Black men
Return to work and the path to recovery after serious injury in Black men
In a new study from the School of Nursing, researchers investigated the ways that returning to work after an injury predict mental health outcomes in Black men living and recovering in Philadelphia.
Infants experiencing opioid withdrawal more often treated in poorer quality hospitals
Infants experiencing opioid withdrawal more often treated in poorer quality hospitals
The research from the School of Nursing analyzed information from three datasets accounting for 25% of U.S. births annually.
Doulas help families meet breastfeeding goals
Doulas help families meet breastfeeding goals
Research from the School of Nursing shows that these support professionals can be another tool to improve outcomes for newborns and parents.
Modeling how violence permeates health and health care
Modeling how violence permeates health and health care
While violence from wars or civil conflicts is a documented occupational hazard for health care workers, little is known about the impact on these workers and corresponding health services as a result of violence caused by widespread organized crime activity.
Addressing breastfeeding disparities for African American mothers
Addressing breastfeeding disparities for African American mothers
Despite an abundance of data on the importance of breastfeeding and human milk for babies and their mothers, a disparity exists for African American mothers and infants, where breastfeeding is initiated only about 69% of the time.
Dietary adherence and the fight against obesity
Dietary adherence and the fight against obesity
While eating less and moving more are the basics of weight control and obesity treatment, finding ways to help people adhere to a weight-loss regimen is more complicated.
Children, the pandemic, and long-term mental health consequences
Children, the pandemic, and long-term mental health consequences
New work from Penn Nursing and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia describes the importance of recognizing COVID-19’s psychological effects on young people and the pivotal role pediatric nurses in all settings can play.
Nearly half of young drivers resume driving just weeks after a concussion
Nearly half of young drivers resume driving just weeks after a concussion
New research finds that nearly half of adolescents who sought specialty care for a concussion were back to driving when asked approximately two weeks after the injury, even though few had returned to exercise and sports.
Toward more optimal birth outcomes
Toward more optimal birth outcomes
A new study from Penn Nursing is the first to assess hospital vaginal birth rates rather than cesarean rates, which can further quality improvement initiatives that focus on encouraging vaginal birth rather than on decreasing the cesarean birth rate.
Novel anti-craving mechanism discovered to treat cocaine relapse
Novel anti-craving mechanism discovered to treat cocaine relapse
New research from School of Nursing has discovered that certain biological chemicals are expressed on specific cell types and neural circuits in the brain that reduce cocaine-seeking behavior.
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Al Día
Dr. Antonia Villarruel to chair national committee tackling U.S. health disparities
Dean Antonia Villarruel of the School of Nursing is the newest chair of the National Academy of Medicine’s Culture of Health program. “The Culture of Health Program is well-positioned to build and strengthen the evidence base to address structural racism. This work will be accomplished together with communities and the multiple private- and public-sectors that intersect to promote health,” she said.
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Nursing Times
UK nursing universities continue to rank highly despite COVID-19 challenges
Dean Antonia Villarruel of the School of Nursing spoke about Penn’s recognition as the world’s top-ranking school for nursing. “Whether globally or right here in our own backyard, Penn Nursing-prepared nurses are by the bedside, conducting research, in the boardroom, and in government, advocating for a better, healthier tomorrow,” she said.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
‘This is something that we weren’t taught’: How a brand-new nurse learned to treat an unknown disease
Linda Aiken of the School of Nursing said short staffing in hospitals has been exacerbated by the pandemic. “Chronic understaffing in hospitals and chaotic and inefficient work environments put nurses in a very poor position to be able to respond to the COVID surge because they were already reaching deep inside themselves in the normal context of care,” she said.
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The New York Times
College student’s simple invention helps nurses work and patients rest
Anthony Scarpone-Lambert, a senior in the School of Nursing, collaborated with a nurse to invent a wearable LED that nurses can use to illuminate their work without waking sleeping patients. “I would say it’s been through COVID that this kind of innovation came to life,” he said. “It highlights the really important message that frontline health care workers and patients really deserve more support now more than ever.”
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NPR
The old rules were dumb anyway
Linda Aiken of the School of Nursing spoke said rules that prevent nurses from working in other states without a new license are out of date. “We have the same technology in every state. Patients are the same. They have the same problems. Everybody has babies everywhere,” she said.
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New York Daily News
Study shows NYC hospitals understaffed in weeks before coronavirus
A new study from the School of Nursing found that New York City hospitals were experiencing a nurse staff shortage before the pandemic began.
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