The art of provocative entertainment

The art of provocative entertainment -- Jeff Doops somber greeting (bad entertainment) -- Off the cuff -- Cool counselor -- Next door on Alice Street

Practical Approaches to Treating Patients with Bipolar Disorder

Many patients present to a primary care setting with symptoms of a mood disorder. These symptoms may be indicative of an anxiety disorder or a depressive disorder, but they may also represent bipolar disorder, which is more common than many practitioners think. Correctly diagnosing bipolar disorder can be complex, because patients tend to seek treatment when they are experiencing the symptoms of depression or anxiety rather than mania or hypomania. Comorbid disorders such as substance abuse and anxiety disorders may complicate the clinical presentation. Failing to correctly diagnose bipolar disorder can have serious consequences in terms of patients\u27 morbidity and mortality, quality of life, and financial costs

NESN Next Producer

As a Media Arts major specializing in Film and Television Production, my senior project reflects on the skills I have acquired over the past four years in terms of film production, marketing, and communications. I entered the New England Sports Network\u27s Next Producer Contest in late October and was challenged to create a short documentary about any topic relating to sports. I chose to film a sport NESN audiences have never seen before: the story of a woman Muay Thai kickboxer. Completing the project in less than a month, I did all of my own pre-production work and public relations outreach, cinematography and filming, and, finally, editing and post-production. Out of the 24 submissions NESN had of its college-level student filmmakers, I made it as one of the top three finalists. Thus, since my first submission, I have had two interview shoots, traveled several times to the NESN studios in Watertown, MA, have met with countless media executives, producers, and filmmakers, and have been featured on two television episodes aired on the network. In order to determine the winner of the competition, which results in a prize of $20,000 and a job opportunity as a producer at NESN, I was asked to create a 60 second promotional vignette for the marketing team of the Boston Red Sox. The two judges, Hollywood producer Brad Falchuck, and Red Sox owner, Tom Werner, will be choosing the winner April 5th

Sjogren’s Syndrome: Recognizing and Treating an Autoimmune Disease

Sjogren\u27s syndrome, one of the most common autoimmune diseases, is characterized by cell-mediated lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands, particularly the salivary and lacrimal glands. It receives little attention in the literature, and frequently goes unrecognized until progressive changes are apparent. This article aids nurse practitioners in diagnosing the disorder in its earliest stages and in initiating proper treatment

Emotional Intelligence and Spiritual Well-Being

Understanding factors that influence spiritual well-being may improve nurses’ spiritual caregiving. This study examined relationships between emotional intelligence (EI) and spiritual well-being (SWB) in undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Using the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), relationships were found between managing emotion and spiritual well-being, and managing emotion and existential well-being. Implications for education and practice are discussed

Factors Related to Academic Success Among Nursing Students: A Descriptive Correlational Research Study

Background:The current rise in employment is improving forecasts for the future supply of registered nurses; however sizeable shortages are still projected. With the intention of improving academic success in nursing students, related factors need to be better understood. Objectives: The purpose of the correlational study was to describe the relationship between emotional intelligence, psychological empowerment, resilience, spiritual well-being, and academic success in undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Design/setting: A descriptive correlational design was utilized. The study was set in a private Catholic university. Participants: There were 124 participants. There were 59% undergraduate and 41% graduate students. Methods: Background data, in addition to the Spreitzer Psychological Empowerment Scale, the Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale, and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale and the Mayer –Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, was collected from students who met study criteria. Results: In a combined sample, academic success was correlated with overall spiritual well-being, empowerment and resilience. Although academic success was not correlated with overall emotional intelligence, it was correlated with the emotional intelligence branch four (managing emotions) score.When undergraduate and graduate students were considered separately, only one correlation was found to be significantly related to academic success in the undergraduate sample, namely, emotional intelligence branch one (perceiving emotions). When examining the data from just graduate level nurses, significant relationshipswere found between total emotional intelligence with academic success, resilience with academic success, and psychological empowerment with academic success. Conclusion: The significant relationship between psychological empowerment, resilience, spiritual well-being and academic success in this study supports the statements in the literature that these concepts may play an important role in persistence through the challenges of nursing education. Research is needed to examine if strategies to enhance empowerment, resilience, and spiritual well-being can increase academic success in a test-retest design

Implementation and Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Dietary Program in Federal Incarcerated Females

The purpose of this 3-month quasi-experimental pilot study was to examine the effect of a physical activity and dietary education program on body mass index (BMI) and resilience. Participants were given data-storing pedometers to record their physical activity, attended classes on healthy eating, and used portion control tools from http://ChooseMyPlate.gov . MyPlate usage and commissary purchases were collected weekly. BMI and resilience scores were measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Twenty-nine female prisoners completed the study. There was a statistically significant reduction in BMI after 12 weeks (χ2 = 7.56, p = .023) and resilience levels increased but did not reach statistical significance (χ2 = 1.66, p = .437). A physical activity and dietary intervention delivered by a correctional health nurse practitioner was an efficacious approach to reducing BMI and improving resilience among female prisoners

Sleep and recovery in physicians on night call: a longitudinal field study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is well known that physicians' night-call duty may cause impaired performance and adverse effects on subjective health, but there is limited knowledge about effects on sleep duration and recovery time. In recent years occupational stress and impaired well-being among anaesthesiologists have been frequently reported for in the scientific literature. Given their main focus on handling patients with life-threatening conditions, when on call, one might expect sleep and recovery to be negatively affected by work, especially in this specialist group. The aim of the present study was to examine whether a 16-hour night-call schedule allowed for sufficient recovery in anaesthesiologists compared with other physician specialists handling less life-threatening conditions, when on call.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sleep, monitored by actigraphy and Karolinska Sleep Diary/Sleepiness Scale on one night after daytime work, one night call, the following first and second nights post-call, and a Saturday night, was compared between 15 anaesthesiologists and 17 paediatricians and ear, nose, and throat surgeons.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Recovery patterns over the days after night call did not differ between groups, but between days. Mean night sleep for all physicians was 3 hours when on call, 7 h both nights post-call and Saturday, and 6 h after daytime work (p < 0.001). Scores for mental fatigue and feeling well rested were poorer post-call, but returned to Sunday morning levels after two nights' sleep.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Despite considerable sleep loss during work on night call, and unexpectedly short sleep after ordinary day work, the physicians' self-reports indicate full recovery after two nights' sleep. We conclude that these 16-hour night duties were compatible with a short-term recovery in both physician groups, but the limited sleep duration in general still implies a long-term health concern. These results may contribute to the establishment of safe working hours for night-call duty in physicians and other health-care workers.</p

Is it time US dentistry ended its opioid dependence?

Background. In 2017, 11.4 million US citizens misused prescription opioids, resulting in 46 overdose-deaths daily and a $78.5 billion burden on the economy. Dentists are one of the most frequent prescribers of opioids and there is concern that dental prescribing is contributing to the opioid crisis. Methods. A recent study showed 22.3% of US dental prescriptions were for opioids compared to 0.6% in England, where nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen accounted for most analgesic prescriptions. This observation prompted a review of international analgesic prescribing habits and of the advantages and disadvantages of opioids and NSAIDs for treating dental pain. Results. US opioid prescribing far exceeded that in other countries where NSAIDs accounted for the vast majority of dental analgesic prescribing. Furthermore, recent reviews confirm NSAIDs, and NSAID-acetaminophen combinations are as or more effective than opioids for controlling dental pain and cause significantly fewer side-effects. Conclusions. In light of the potential for misuse, and evidence that NSAIDs are as effective as opioids and have fewer side effects, there is clear patient benefit in avoiding opioids for the prevention or management of dental pain. Practical Implications. A growing preponderance of evidence shows that opioids are not needed for routine dental care. This article provides an overview of the evidence and outlines possible pain management models to minimize opioid use in dentistry. The purpose is to stimulate debate on this important topic and encourage the development of definitive guidance by professional bodies, health providers, and state and federal agencies