Transitioning the Family Nurse Practitioner into Specialty Practice

Background There is minimal existing data regarding the significant transition into practice for Nurse Practitioners, especially Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) transitioning into specialty clinical practice. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine whether FNPs are able to successfully transition into specialty practice through self-report of their perceived comfort and competence, understanding of their advanced practice role by others, collegial support, and communications and relations with patients. Methods This study used the 16-item, 7-point Likert Scale Nurse Practitioner Role Transition Scale (NPRTS) in addition to 5 open-ended questions to measure confidence and support related to transition into specialty practice. Results From a sample of 23 FNPs,the overall mean score for the NPRTS was 2.19 (SD=0.66) indicating a low level of confidence and support throughout their transition into specialty clinical practice. Conclusions The results of this study concluded that having a formal orientation results in an easier transition into specialty clinical practice for FNPs; however, the majority of the FNPs in this study did not feel prepared for this transition into clinical practice. Implications for Advanced Practice Nursing FNP program directors and clinical specialty administrators are stakeholders in the transition into specialty practice process and should use these study results to help further support FNPs

Schroedinger cat-like states by conditional measurements on a beam-splitter

A scheme for generating Schr\"{o}dinger cat-like states of a single-mode optical field by means of conditional measurement is proposed. Feeding into a beam splitter a squeezed vacuum and counting the photons in one of the output channels, the conditional states in the other output channel exhibit a number of properties that are very similar to those of superpositions of two coherent states with opposite phases. We present analytical and numerical results for the photon-number and quadrature-component distributions of the conditional states and their Wigner and Husimi functions. Further, we discuss the effect of realistic photocounting on the states.Comment: 6 figures(divided in subfigures) using a4.st

Pregabalin versus gabapentin in partial epilepsy: a meta-analysis of dose-response relationships

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To compare the efficacy of pregabalin and gabapentin at comparable effective dose levels in patients with refractory partial epilepsy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eight randomized placebo controlled trials investigating the efficacy of pregabalin (4 studies) and gabapentin (4 studies) over 12 weeks were identified with a systematic literature search. The endpoints of interest were "responder rate" (where response was defined as at least a 50% reduction from baseline in the number of seizures) and "change from baseline in seizure-free days over the last 28 days (SFD)". Results of all trials were analyzed using an indirect comparison approach with placebo as the common comparator. The base-case analysis used the intention-to-treat last observation carried forward method. Two sensitivity analyses were conducted among completer and responder populations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The base-case analysis revealed statistically significant differences in response rate in favor of pregabalin 300 mg versus gabapentin 1200 mg (odds ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.02, 3.25) and pregabalin 600 mg versus gabapentin 1800 mg (odds ratio, 2.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.21, 5.27). Both sensitivity analyses supported the findings of the base-case analysis, although statistical significance was not demonstrated. All dose levels of pregabalin (150 mg to 600 mg) were more efficacious than corresponding dosages of gabapentin (900 mg to 2400 mg) in terms of SFD over the last 28 days.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In patients with refractory partial epilepsy, pregabalin is likely to be more effective than gabapentin at comparable effective doses, based on clinical response and the number of SFD.</p

Greater Response to Placebo in Children Than in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in Drug-Resistant Partial Epilepsy

In a systematic review of antiepileptic drugs, Philippe Ryvlin and colleagues find that children with drug-resistant partial epilepsy enrolled in trials seem to have a greater response to placebo than adults enrolled in such trials

Lokale Politische Deutungskultur. Zum Zusammenhang von politischer Problemdeutung, sozialem Unzufriedenheits- und Konfliktpotential in der städtischen Aufnahmegesellschaft

Anhut R. Lokale Politische Deutungskultur. Zum Zusammenhang von politischer Problemdeutung, sozialem Unzufriedenheits- und Konfliktpotential in der städtischen Aufnahmegesellschaft. In: Heitmeyer W, Anhut R, eds. Bedrohte Stadtgesellschaft. Konflikt- und Gewaltforschung. Weinheim, München: Juventa; 2000: 449-496

Grenzen entwicklungspolitischer Intervention: der Politikdialog in den Ernährungsstrategien

Anhut R. Grenzen entwicklungspolitischer Intervention: der Politikdialog in den Ernährungsstrategien. DUV : Sozialwissenschaft. Wiesbaden: Dt. Univ.-Verl.; 1990